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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 


L161—0O-1096 














The Prince of the House 
of David; or, ‘Three 
Years in the 


Holy City 


BY 


The Rev. Prof. J. H. Ingraham 


* 
Revised and Corrected by the Author 


om 


NEW YORK 


GROSSET & DUNLAP 
PUBLISHERS 


Wit Ae ine 
ARNG A 


ipeneva veces 


; 
1 
y 


fof 





~ 


PREFACE. 


Tue Letters comprising the present volume 
were written for the purpose of presenting, per- 
haps, in a new aspect, and from a new point of 
view, the advent of the Son of Mary, Christ the 
Lord, among the people of Judea. It was 
the editor’s hope, in writing them, to tempt the 
daughters of Israel to read what he wrote, and 
receive and be convinced by the arguments and 
proofs of the divinity of Christ as here presented. 
For the Israelite as well as the Gentile believer 
this volume appears; and if it may be the means 
of convincing one son or daughter of Abraham to 
accept Jesus as Messias, or convince the infidel 
Gentile that He is the very Son of the God and 
Creator of the world, he will have received his re- 
ward for the midnight hours, stolen from parochial 
labors, which he has devoted to this work. 

All the scenes of the life of Jesus during the 
last four years of his stay on earth, as recorded 
in the Gospel, are here narrated as if by an eye- 
witness of them. 

Adina, the writer, a Jewess, is assumed to 


lv PREFACE. 


have been a resident of Jerusalem during the last 
four years of our Saviour’s life; and to have 
written to Alexandria, to her father, numerous 
letters, describing all events of interest, and 
especially giving a minute narrative of the won- 
derful events of the life of Christ, whom she 
daily saw. 

With sacred awe and deep reverence, as con- 
scious of treading on ‘‘holy ground,” the writer 
has unfolded, with the four Gospels as his guide, 
the successive incidents of their marvelous His- 
tory, such as no four years, before or since, have 
paralleled. 

Jesus was man, as well as God! In this book 
He is seen, conversed with, eaten with, as aman! 

Some of the scenes present Him (as evidently 
He did pass them) in the hours of domestic inter- 
course and friendly companionship. 

There can be no charge of irreverence where 
none is intended, and where the writer has trod 
‘“‘with his shoes off his feet,’’ and with the most 
zautious steps. 

The subject is one of infinite delicacy, and the 
writer believes and trusts that while he has 
sought to present (in order to attain the end he 
seeks), the man Christ Jesus, he has not forgot- 
ten the ‘‘Godhead veiled in the flesh. ”’ 

J. Howe 


TABLE OF CONTENTS. 


PAGE 
PIN EELOPEDELCURCPING Gos bie ele's sis. ole 0 6t 0 0a'd sna Sete e Panties cde toeweanes xii 


LETTER I. 


Account of the journey from Alexandria to Jerusalem—Gaza— 
Joseph’s Well—The Dead Sea—Jordan—Emotions on behold- 
ing the Holy City—Rabbi Amos—Desecration of the Temple— 
Sacrifices for sin—A Prophet of God preaching near Jordan.. 


LETTER II. 


Rabbi Ben Israel’s return—Happiness with Rabbi Amos—Rebecca 
—Mary—View from the Residence—Scene from the Housetop 
at morning—The Sacrifice and Temple-worship at sunrise— 
Evening Sacrifice and Worship—Idol-worship at the Koman 
castle near the Temple—Prophecies fulfilled—Under a cloud— 
The Messenger foretold by Malachi—Elijah the Prophet— 
Rabbi Amos acknowledges the corruption of the Priests— 
Decay of Reverence—A young man, who has heard the new 
Prophet, near Jericho..........0000. ila dbldeletadisle ceive uviathciside sia 


LETTER III. 


Presentation of the First Fruits—Tower of Antonia—Insult from 
a Roman Soldier—Protection afforded by a youthful Roman 
Centurion—Pageant of the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate— 
The new Prophet, as described by John, the Cousin of Mary— 
He hve a full account of his journey to the Jordan—Arrival 
at Jeri Decececeeceseseseeedecssednecscccnenceseucevesbetesecves 


LETTER IV. 


Death of Rabbi Israel—Extract from her Father’s letter concern- 
ing the new Prophet—Continuation of John’s account of his 
visit to Jordan, to see the new Prophet—The Twelve Stones of 
the Jordan—Description of the Prophet—His Sermon—“‘Art 
thou not Elias ?”°—‘ Messiah ?”—Generation of Vipers—Woe 
to the Priests—‘‘ The Lord our Righteousness’’—One Thou- 
sand baptized—Joseph of Arimathea—A second Sermon at 


EVENING. ..ccscscerveveees ereeer eer eeeeee eeceeerereeseeseeeeeereeeeeee 


LETTER V. 


Baptism of Two Hundred more—Blessing in the Name of the 
Lamb of God—Joseph of Arimathea—Conversation with the 
Prophet—He sings the Evening Hymn of the Temple—Hymn 


19 


30 


vi CONTENTS. 


/ PAGE 
of Praise—Conversation with the Prophet concerning Messiah 
—His Death—His Kingdom not of this World—The Prophet 
retires to the Desert—Appearance of Lazarus—His explana- 
tions of the Prophecies—Taught by his Friend—Description 
of this Friend—Jesus, the Nazarene—Conflict of mind—Study- 
ing the Prophets........... rintw ced temas AA PISA ANSE Si. Yonge 


LETTER VI. 


Ben Israel—Answer to her Father’s Letter against this ‘* novelty * 
—Extract from his Letter—Reply—Indignation against the 
Prophet among the Priests and Levites—-Messengers are sent 
to invite him to Jerusalem—His Answer—He is accused of 
Sedition—The Messengers declare their Conversion and Bap- 
tism—They are arrested—Conversations and Discussions at 
the House of Rabbi Amos—Stephen—The Prophet performs 
no Miracles—Rabbi Amos going to Gilgal—Adina and Mary 
going with him—They expect to see the Prophet—The Roman 
Centurion reading the Scriptures—He would like to hear the 
Prophet—Barabbas, the Robber—The Escort—John gone to 
look after his ships in Galilee..... Naki Nia'a'yin dWain'S wd bre one Slate 


LETTER VII. 


The Messiah has come!—Account of the visit to Jordan—Adina, 
Mary and John go with Rabbi Amos—Escorted by the Roman 
Centurion—Barabbas—Two Gibeonite Servants—Glimpse of 
Caiaphas—Turtle Doves and young Pigeons—Blind Bartimeus 
and his Lamb—The Sheep Gate—-A.milius—Roman Soldiers— 
Bethesda—The Moving of the Waters—Absalom’s’ Pillar— 
Joined ‘by the Escorti ce ec.cvah ven dials yes naepees MARAT es 


LETTER VIII. 


Continuation of the Account—Edomite Robbers—View from 
Bethany—Conversation with the Centurion—Hope of his Con- 
version—Repose at the house of Rabbi Abel—Attractions of 
the Family—Lazarus, Martha, Mary—Embroidery for the 
Temple—Copies of the Law and the Psalms—Present for the 
wife of Pilate—‘‘I. N.’’—Jesus of Nazareth—Lazarus accom- 
panies them—Gamaliel—Saul—Arrival at Jericho—Gilgal— 
Barabbas—Going to Bethabara.......ssccseccevsccessecceecsce Of 


LETTER IX. 


The way to Bethabara—Matthew, the Publican—Judas Iscariot— 
The Tower of Elijah—Vast Multitude—Description of the 
Prophet—His Sermon—" Behold the Lamb of God !”—The 
Baptism of Christ—The Dove—The Voice from Heaven— 
Jesus disappears.....cssesseseeee By atodsly tues abd Uies clopeteehs ae a naan 


LETTER X. 


Adina believes in the Christ—The voice of the Dove—John and 
Lazarus follow Jesus—The excited Multitude disperse—Rabbi 


CONTENTS. 


vi 


PAGE 


Amos converses with the Prophet—John and Lazarus over- 
take Jesus in the Wilderness—He sends them back from fol- 


PWR RITE VSLOL Ys 5 coo 0 cle cisis eu eivivin Ch abietoicee dee easione bse 115 


LETTER XI. 


Return to Gilgal—John Lazarus, Gamaliel, Saul and others—Dis- 
cussion on the Prophecies concerning the Messiah—‘‘ Visage 
marred ’’—‘‘No form nor comeliness ’’—Sorcery at the Bap- 
tism of Jesus—‘t Thou art my Son ’’—Born in Bethlehem—Of 
the seed of David—Miracles?—Difference of Opinion—Return 
to Jericho—The Beautiful Mary of Magdala—Waiting for 


CSUS. rv recverevesecceser tress severe sssesesseees eveveees eeeccees 


LETTER XII. 


Adina’s Father refuses to believe—Meeting of all the Prophecies 
—Nothing seen of Jesus for five weeks—John tells them of 
his finding Jesus in the Desert—He is worn down by fasting 
and sorrow—Jesus returns—John follows Him as His disci- 
ple—Hymn of Praise—Pilate’s Message to Caiaphas—The an- 
swer—Development of Power............ aS ee ots elbie'cip\e sees 


LETTER XIII. 


“A Man of Sorrows, and acquainted with Grief**—A Miracle— 
The Carpenter’s tools--Andrew, Simon, Philip, Nathaniel, 
James and John—The Mother of Jesus—Cana—Elizabeth— 
The Water turned into Wine--Thirty Priests studying th 
PROPOR Cea os Wiev ed eras pars Rivina adem oe SPE TP Ore ue ae dele aisle bes © 


LETTER XIV. 


Fame of Jesus increases—He is attended by thousands—Cures 
and Miracles—The Lame Man restored—John’s account of 
His Miracles—He Casts out Devils—They confess Him—Visit 
of the Magi—The Murder of the Innocents—Escape of Jesus— 
Summary of evidence proving that Jesus is the Christ........ 


LETTER XV. 


Imprisonment and Death of John the Baptist—Jesus is told of it 
—The Miracle of the Five Loaves and Two Fishes—Envoy of 
the Priests—Miracles by the aid of Beelzebub—John the Bap- 
tist was Elias—Six other Disciples chosen—Jesus no ambi- 
tious leader—Refuses to be made a King.............- ales slolaee 


LETTER XVI. 


Uproar among the People—Rabbi Amos professes himself a be- 
liever—Messiah a Man, not an Angel—Is He not also God ?— 
Nicodemus—Jesus fatigued—His power not for His own relief 
—Benjamin, the lost Brother, returns—He had been healed 
by Jesus, after being a lunatic seven years—How the cure 
was wrougbt—Triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem...... 


124 


134 


144 


155 


165 


1% 


viii CONTENTS. 


LETTER XVII. 


PAGE 


Tumult at the entry of Jesus on the niorning of the Passover— 
Shouting—Jesus purges the Temple of the Money-changers— 
The Scourge of Small Cords—He is questioned by the High- 
Priest—He is rejected—Another Miracle............eeeeeees ae 


LETTER XVIII. 


Recovery of Adina’s Father from sickness—She combats his ob- 
jections—“Out of Egypt have I called my Son —* Galilee 
of the Gentiles’’—Jesus comes to the house, with a great 
Multitude—Amilius, the Centurion—Description of Jesus— 
He is charged with sedition—Amilius refuses—Jesus enters 
the house of Rabbi Amos—Adina greets Him—A wound upon 
His temples—HElias asks for a Miracle—A man with the palsy 
let down in a blanket—He is healed........... Shih dsleat vice oD i 


LETTER XIX. 


Divisions on account of Jesus—Nicodemus visits Him by night— 
The new Birth of Water and the Spirit—Throne on Calvary— 
Jesus forgives Sins, with a Miracle of Healing—Jesus departs 
for Galilee—He declines the Roman escort—Four Lepers 
AOE a aa is converted—Other proofs in behalf of 

esus.. weeeeeeeeeeee eeereevee eevee eeoeeeeeeeeteoe *#eeeeoeve veeeeeoeeeeeesn 


LETTER XX. 


Adina’s illness—Sojourn in Nain—Two Disciples of Jesus arrive 
at the house—They announce the coming of Jesus--They are 
driven from the town—Ruth—A letter for Sarah from Samuel 
—He has been wrecked, and kindly received at the house of 
Adina’s father, in Alexandria—Samuel arrives—He is seized 
with a malignant fever—Dies—Preparations for Burial—A 
Letter from’ Gadarary. ei. ccuich sls ceeu vue peeks soidsitled aces ile eaemtels 


LETTER XXI. 


Grief of Ruth—Great procession accompanying the Dead—The 
Dead is raised to life by Jesus—Mary relates the account of 
it—Samuel’s remembrance of his state during Death—Jesus 
abides in the house—Two Weddings at hand......... sieialalelelaniie 


LETTER XXII. 


Morning at Jerusalem—Aimilius becomes a Proselyte—Account 
of the ceremony of his reception as such in the Temple—Jesus 
appears in the Temple—His Sermon—His Assassination at- 
tempted, and foiled—He is saluted as King—Tumult—Pilate 
makes obeisance to Him—He disappears—The Tribute-money 
—Amilius needs one step more........... aTheaae By fy 


187 


199 


211 


CONTENTS. 
LETTER XXIII. 


P 

Adina’s Father about to visit Jerusalem—Enumeration of the 
* miracles of Jesus—He forgives sins—Eli’s withered arm re- 
stored—His confession of his sin—Miracle of the Loaves— 
Jesus is to be at Jerusalem at the Passover—Lazarus is taken 


sic aeeeeeeecen @eoeeteveeseosess oooeeeeeeseseasesen eersereeoseeovere 


LETTER XXIV. 


Adina and Mary go to Lazarus—Cause of his sickness—His vir- 
tues—Lazarus failing—Beauty of Ruth—Her delivery from 
the hands of Annas in the Temple—Mary writes to Jesus, then 


1x 


AGE 


257 


at Bethabara eeeeoeeeeresesen @reoereseesese Biles  tatscece siiselttec LOO 


LETTER XXV. 


Death of Lazarus—Martha and Mary—‘ That good part "—Grief 
of the family—Mary’s sin—Betrayed by Prince Herod Vale- 
rius—Carried away by him to a castle in Galilee—She escapes 
to the Mother of Jesus at Nazareth—Her sin forgiven by 
Jesus—He reconciles her to her family—Her lovely Penitence 


LETTER XXVI. 


The Burial of Lazarus—He is laid ina Cave—milius present— 
Grief of Martha and Mary—Barabbas and his Ishmaelite Rob- 
bers—A fight between him and Aimilius—Barabbas is wounded 
a OP captive—Crosses upon Calvary—Isaiah’s Prophecy 

u eoveeeeoereeeeeeeeeeeeresr eevee eereereeeeeeeeeeeeneees e@eeoveeve 


LETTER XXVII. 


¥aith of Martha and Mary in the power of Jesus—Jesus receives 
their message—The Death of their Brother causes their faith 
to fail—Dead four days already—Jesus comes—Martha and 
Mary go out to meet him--The Raising of Lazarus from the 
Dead—He returns home with JesusS.......sscscecccvseesesseses 


LETTER XXVIII. 


Adina’s Father is delayed—He believes in the Power of Jesus, 
but not that he is Messias—Adina’s reply to his Objections— 
The Claims of Jesus Himself, in the Synagogue of Bethany-- 
Testimony of an unclean spirit—He is cast out—He is saluted 
King—The Jews cry out ‘‘ Sedition against Ceesar !’’--Aimilius 
—Tumult—Jesus secretly conveys Himself away—His secret 
Prayer—Lither Messias or a Liar—His future Kingdom—John 
speaks mournfully and mysteriously of his Death..... is cartels 


LETTER XXIX. 


Terror and Trouble--Discourse of Jesus after eating the Passover 
—John narrates all the incidents of the Last Supper—Judas 


274 


313 


x CONTENTS. 


' P 
Iscariot—‘‘ What thou doest, do quickly "The Garden Baty 


Gethsemane—The Betrayal—Jesus is taken—Sounds of Angels 
in the air—John follows Jesus—The multitude take Jesus first 
to Annas—Rage of the People........ coeuaceh as Okman ema ee ee cn 


LETTER XXX. 


Hope and Faith are over!—Weeping, and Mourning, and Despair 
—Lamentations—Sorrow of John and the Mother of Jesus— 
No one any longer believes—Mary’s account of ail that had 
happened—Jesus among the raging multitude—‘‘ Weep not 
for me: Weep for yourselves!’’°—Peter with his sword drawn 
—Fierce bitterness of the Priests—Message fromthe Wife of 
Pilate—Judas Iscariot, with his bag of money—Sunrise...... 


LETTER XXXI. 


No more confidence in man!—Flight of the Disciples—Aimilius 
alone yet firm in the Faith—Facts as given by John, Rabbi 
Amos, Peter, #milius, and others of the Disciples—Jesus led 
from Annas to Caiapbas--The testimony of False Witnesses 
—Peter’s Denial—The Cock-crowing—‘ Blasphemy !”—The 
Buffeting—Jesus is protected by Aimilius and his Roman 
soldiers—-Insurrection threatened—Jesus abused by the Rab- 
ble—He is hurried off to Pilate........ a FSA Se ANH ce, cise A 


LETTER XXXII. 


Narrative of the Trial resumed--Omens—Smoke-pall over the City 
—The wind not does carry it away—Darkness, Earthquake, 
the Dead rising from their Graves—Jesus in the Preetorium— 
Questioned by Pilate—Judas rushes in remorseful—‘I am a 
King *—‘‘ Not Ceesar’s Friend **—The Message from Pilate’s 
Wife—Jesus sent to Herod—The Mocking—“One must. fall” 


LETTER XXXIII. 


John still clinging close to Jesus—Herod and Jesus—Herod and 


Pilate reconciled—Jesus is silent—Herod gives Jesus up to 
the Mob—Crowned with Thorns—Mocked with Robe and 
Reed—Jesus saluted as King--He is led back to the Preetorium 
—* What is Truth?’’—“ Barabbas!’"—The Robber is liberated 


by Pilate. coe .se cece fener eeeere eee rer eer eee ese ereseee eeceeeeeeoere 


LETTER XXXIV. 


Pilate’s Indecision—‘‘Thou art not Cesar’s Friend ”*—‘ Behold 
your King!"—‘‘Crucify Him!—Pilate washes his hands— 
*‘His Blood be on us and on our Children!""—Jesus Scourged 
—Dragged to Calvary—Judas Iscariot dead—The Cross—The 
Ascent of Calvary—-Falling under the Cross—Simon the 
Cyrenian—Skulls—The two Robbers—Ishmerai and Omri— 
The Centurion’s excuse for Pilate..... setters Race aKate ans Rela Sinn 


342 


857 


376 


CONTENTS. 
LETTER XXXV. 


PAGE 


Account. of the Crucifixion continued—The Mother of Jesus— 
Binding Him to the Cross—The Seamless Robe—The Nailing 
—Raising the Cross—The Guard set—Casting lots—Purchase 
of the Robe—‘'This is Jesus, the King of the Jews’”—Revilings 
of the Crowd+-‘‘I thirst’’—The Penitent Omri—‘ This day 
shalt thou be with Mein Paradise ’’—The Reed and Sponge— 
Darkness—‘“ Eloi, Eloi, lama Sabachthani ”*—‘‘ It is finished” 
—‘‘ Father, into Thy handsI commend my Spirit’’—Earth- 
quake—The tombs give up their dead—‘ Truly this was’ the 
DOMLOE GO 1 eile os bivig a cclescicsee cele eereeeoevee e@eeoeevee eeeeeeoeee ese 


LETTER XXXVI. 


Taking down the Bodies—The Darkness caused by an Eclipse— 
Jesus dead already—Breaking the Legs—The Piercing of 
Jesus—Joseph of Arimathea begs the Body of Jesus—The 
Descent from the Cross—The Burial in a new Tomb—Setting 
the Watch—Sealing the Stone—Going to the Sepulcher with 
spices—The note Of JOY........cecseseeseeeoecs Secale bimtoiaals Cvrele 

" h 


LETTER XXXVII. 


The Resurrection of Jesus—Joy—Testimony of Mary—Terror of 
the Guard—Their flight—The Angels—The Sepulcher empty 
—Mary tells how she had seen Jesus—Peter and John—Amaze- 
ment of Caiaphas—Pilate’s emotions—The Guard bribed to 
oo false tale—They are not punished for sleeping on their 
Pp e@eeoceeseeeeeeeeee @eseeveo eeeeeeeeeeeee ceeeeeeeeeeeereeeene eee 


LETTER XXXVIII.} 


Adina at Bethany—Retrospect of the Life of Jesus—Summary of 
Argument—-Prophecies of Messias explained—Jesus appears 
in Galilee—And elsewhere—Boldness of the Christians—Daily 
Council at Bethlehem—Majesty and Power of Jesus—Expla- 
nation of the meaning of Sacrifice—The Resurrection of 
Jesus, notorious—Some Great Event about to happen— 


Adina’s Father soon expected...........00 JEL COD CIC OGOUN RI eIC 4 


LETTER XXXIX. 


The Ascension—Like the Transfiguration—Commission and Ben- 
ediction—The Rising Heavenward—Angelic Chorus—The 
ummary of the ArguMent—POstscriptrrresecvesrees 


420 


437 


451 


478 





INTRODUCTION. 


Aprna, the writer of the following letters, was 
the only child of Manasseh Benjamin, who, 
though an Israelite of the tribe of Judah, was a 
native of the Greco-Romano city of Alexandria. 
His ancestor was the learned David Esdras 
Manasseh, one of the Septuaginta (or LXX) ap- 
pointed by Ptolemy Philadelphus in the year 
B.C. 277 to translate the Bible from the original 
Hebrew tongue into Greek. Esdras, with his 
companions, having accomplished this important 
work, was invited by the king to remain in Egypt, 
where he died at an advanced age, holding an 
office of trust and honor. His descendants for 
five generations were eminent men, and shared 
the confidence of the rulers of Egypt, under 
whom they accumulated riches which were finally 
inherited by Manasseh Benjamin, a man not un- 
worthy of so eminent an ancestry. He was 
revered in Alexandria for his integrity, wisdom 
and rank, as well as for his learning and wealth, 
and was honored with the friendship of the 
Roman pro-consul, Rufus Lucius Paulinus. His 


Xiv INTRODUCTION. 


love and veneration for the land of his fathers, 
for the Holy City and Temple of Jehovah, were 
not lessened by his nativity as an Egyptian Jew, 
and as he had been in his youth sent to Jerusa- 
lem by his father, to be educated in the laws of 
. Moses, so he resolved that his daughter should 
share the same privileges, be taught as beseemed 
a Jewish woman, and the inheritress of his name 
and wealth. 

After a tedious journey of seventeen days by 
the way of Gaza, the lovely Adina at length came 
in sight of the walls and tower of the city of 
Zion. The caravan halted upon the ridge, and 
the Jewish travelers composing it alighted and 
prostrated themselves in adoration before the 
city of David, and the mountain of Moriah, made 
sacred by the footsteps of Abraham. 'The maiden 
unveiled and bowed her head with sacred awe. 
It was her first sight of Jerusalem—the city of 
her fathers, the birthplace of her parent, of 
which, from her earliest childhood, she had 
heard him speak with the profoundest reverence. 
As she gazed upon it, she thought of Isaac, who 
had been bound upon an altar on yonder height, 
now glittering with walls overlaid with marble 
and gold; of Isaiah, who had been sawn asunder 
in the gloomy valley at her feet; of David and 
his glory; of Solomon and his wisdom; of the 


INTRODUCTION. xV 


host of Prophets who had trod its streets or 
wandered upon its hills. Rapidly her memory 
brought to her mind the history of the mighty 
past, of the sieges the city had withstood against 
the Assyrians, the Persians, the Egyptians, and 
the nations of the earth; of the carrying away 
into captivity of her countrymen, of the demoli- 
tion of its walls and of its Temple; and its re- 
building by Ezra. But most of all she dwelt 
with holy fear upon the thought that the pres- 
ence of God, of Jehovah, had dwelt there century 
after century, ‘visibly, in unbearable Fire, within 
the inner sanctuary of the Temple; and that 
there He had spoken with man, as it were, face 
to face. She thought also of the Ark of the 
Covenant, of the Tables of Stone, of Aaron’s 
budded rod, and of the brazen serpent which 
were laid up in the Temple; and her heart beat 
with emotion such as she had never felt before. 
Lower, and with more awful veneration, she bent 
her head in grateful reverence to Him who had 
so distinguished above all nations her nation, 
above all cities the city Of her fathers and of the 
Prophets! Then she raised her eyes in pride 
that she was a Jewess, and looked around proudly 
upon the noble landscape which, in her imagina- 
tion, it seemed must be as familiar to the eyes of ; 
angels as to men, so closely had heaven connected 
itself with that chosen spot. 


xvi INTRODUCTION. 


The Arabs, her attendants, had also bowed and 
kneeled in the presence of the sacred towers; but 
it was in honor of Abraham and the patriarchs, 
their ancestors through Ishmael, who they be- 
lieved lay with Isaac and Jacob in sepulchers 
upon Mount Zion. 

Adina’s proud glance around was arrested by 
the sight of a cohort of soldiers that came gallop- 
ing up the ridge from the city, with a glittering 
eagle carried in advance. 

“The Romani! The Romani!’’ cried the 
guides, and rising from their knees they re- 
mounted in haste, and used every exertion to 
leave the road open to the approaching troop of 
horse. An Israelitish muleteer, afew rods below 
in the path, who could not get out of the way 
soon enough, was overrun and thrown to the 
ground, and the cavalcade swept onward to the 
summit of the hill, disregarding him. 

The cheek of Adina paled at this sight, but it 
was not from fear. All her pride died away in 
her heart; and she forgot the glory of the past, 
in the sense of the present degradation. In the 
first exultation of her emotions at fastening her 
eyes upon Jerusalem, she had forgotten that the 
land of the Prophets and of kings anointed by 
God was now a conquered Roman province. 
But the sight of the Roman cohort brought this 


INTRODUCTION. XVil 


painful reality to her mind, and veiling her face, 
she was overcome by the deepest sadness. 

The troops passed her and her escort like a 
whirlwind of war, with ringing spurs, jingling 
bits, clashing shields, and the noise of the tramp 
of five hundred hoofs. She could no longer gaze 
upon the city with joy and pride. The words of 
Jeremiah rose to her lips: 

*“How hath the Lord covered the daughter of 
Zion with a cloud in his anger! Is this the city 
that men call the perfection of beauty, the joy 
of the whole earth? The Lord has cast us off 
from being a nation, and the name of Israel is 
remembered no more!’’ 

Tears, free and bountiful, relieved the fullness 
of her heart, and like a true daughter ot Jerusa- 
lem, she mourned over the departed glory of her 
people. 

Once more they rode on, winding down around 
a hill covered with tombs, one of which was 
pointed out to her by a Jewish rabbi, under 
whose care she was journeying, as that of the 
prophet Jeremiah. Leaving this tomb on the 
left, they crossed a small valley, green and beau- 
tiful with groves, fountains and terraces, and 
thronged with a mixed multitude, both men and 
women, who seemed to be enjoying a promenade 
there, outside the city walls; there were also 


«vill INTRODUCTION, 


booths arranged on one side of the shady walk, 
where merchants from all parts of the earth were 
selling. The rabbi accounted for this concourse 
by informing her that they had arrived at Jeru- 
salem on a great feast day. Avoiding this multi- 
tude they moved on their way to the right, and © 
ascended a low eminence from which Jerusalem, 
in another point of view, burst upon them in all 
the splendor of its still unconquerable magnifi- 
cence; for with all its vicissitudes of misfortune, 
in wars, sieges and desolation, the Jerusalem of 
the Romans was still a majestic metropolis, and, 
in a great degree, meriting its appellation of the 
**Queen of the nations.’’ 

*‘How beautiful!’’? exclaimed Adina, uncon- 
sciously reining up her camel. 

‘‘Man cannot destroy the city of God,’’ said 
the rabbi, with haughty confidence. ‘‘She will 
stand forever. ’’ 

‘*Point out to me, good Rabbi Ben Israel, the 
prominent places! What is that frowning castle 
beyond the Temple which looks so strong and 
warlike ?’’ 

‘That is the ‘City of David,’ the castle of the 
kings! It protects the Templeand town. David 
fortified himself in it, and so did the noble Mac- 
cabees. It was built by Melchisedec, the first 
King of Jerusalem, and the friend of our father 


INTRODUCTION. xix 


Abraham. It is now garrisoned by a thousand 
Roman soldiers. ’’ 

The Jewish girl sighed, and then her eyes 
being attracted by a graceful tower which the 
sunbeams of the west burnished like gold, she 
inquired what it was. 

‘“*The one with the palm growing by its side 
and nearly as lofty®’’ asked the rabbi, who 
seemed to take pleasure in gratifying the curi- 
osity of his lovely protégée. 

‘“Ves, the same. ’’ 

*‘That is David’s Tower. Upon it David’s 
watchman stood when he was looking for tidings 
from Absalom; and the wood you see far to the 
northeast is the ‘wood of Ephraim,’ wherein 
Prince Absalom was slain.’’ 

**And what palace is that which the setting sun 
lights up so brilliantly, as if it were covered with 
plates of silver?” 

*“That is the palace of the Roman governor, 
Pontius Pilate, who reigns in Jerusalem as a 
king. But why do you shudder?’’ he asked, as 
he beheld her change countenance; but following 
the direction of her eyes to their right, he beheld, 
not far distant, a score of crosses bristling upon 
a small eminence opposite the city gate; and two 
of the crosses held bodies nailed to them, while 
a guard of soldiers and a crowd of people stood 


xx INTRODUCTION, | 


near looking on and watching the writhings of 
the victims. 'The groans and execrations of one 
of them distinctly reached the ears of Adina. - 

‘“That is the Hill of Calvary, daughter,’’ said 
the rabbi, with a look of outward indifference. 
**It is where the Romans execute their malefac- 
tors. 'Two have suffered to-day. It is a cruel 
punishment, not so mild as stoning to death; but 
the Romans have little feeling. Let us ride on.’” 

On the left they wound round the wall of a 
garden that seemed to be open to the public, as 
in some places the inclosure was thrown down. 
- Several persons were seen within, walking up 
and down, or reclining under the shade of olive 
trees. 

““That is Solomon’s garden, now called Geth- 
semane,’’ said the rabbi; ‘‘it is now like all the 
royal woods, desolate. ’’ 

**Yet beautiful in its desolation. How majes- 
tically the walls of the Temple rise heavenward, 
seen from this valley! What noble hill, partly 
covered with trees, is this behind the garden?’’ 

‘*Olivet, also a portion of the king’s gardens in 
the daysofIsrael’s glory. The village beyond it 
is Bethlehem!’’ 

‘“What, the Bethlehem of Judah, out of which 
the prophet says shall come a Ruler over Israel ?’” 

‘‘The same; and we look one day to have that 


INTRODUCTION. Xxi 


prophecy fulfilled. It cheers us with the assur- 
ance that Jerusalem shall not forever be trodden 
down of the nations, but one day have a king 
and governor of the royal seed of David.’’ 

**And do any of the family of David now 
exist?’’ asked Adina, fixing her eyes earnestly 
upon the bearded face of the rabbi. 

**Yes, or the prophecy could not be accom- 
plished. But they are, as far as known, poor 
and humble; but I have no doubt that in some 
part of the world, among the nations, exists some 
of the sacred stock who are reigning princes, as 
Daniel and Joseph reigned in Persia and Egypt, 
from whence they shall come as conquerors to 
rule over Israel. ’’ 

*“How then can they spring from yonder little 
village of Bethlehem?’’ asked the maiden. 

The rabbi looked a little embarrassed, and was 
about to make some reply to this difficult ques- 
tion, when their road was blocked up by a flock 
of sheep, mingled with a drove of cattle, being 
driven into the city for the altars of sacrifice. It 
was with some delay they made their way 
through these obstacles and came to the gate of 
Damascus. Here they were detained by the 
Roman guard and made to show their passports, 
and to pay thirty sesterces for every camel, and 
half as many for each mule in the caravan. 

The scene in the streets was quite bewildering 


Xxil INTRODUCTION. 


to Adina, who had been journeying so many days 
through a desert; but as the dwelling of the rela- 
tions of her father was near the gate, she was soon 
in the arms of her friends, who, though they had 
never seen her before, received her affectionately, 
as much for her father’s sake, who had com- 
mended her to their protection, as for her own 
prepossessing loveliness. 

Just entering her seventeenth year, the daugh- 
ter of the rich Alexandrian was in the prime of 
female charms. Her hair was an auburn brown, 
long, and shining like gold; her face oval, and 
transparently olive in its color, tinted with the 
least perceptible roseate; her eyes large, and of 
the most splendid light and glory of expression; 
her nose straight and finely outlined, and her 
mouth exquisitely shaped with an expression of 
heavenly sweetness. 

Having been kindly welcomed, and finding 
every preparation made for her comfort and hap- 
piness, she gave a few days to repose, and then, 
on the return of the caravan, addressed the fol- 
lowing letter to her father. This letter was 
followed by many others, all of which it is our 
intention to give to the reader, as they are writ- 
ten at a period the most interesting of any other 
of which history takes record. ‘The first letter is 
dated, according to the Jewish chronology, three 
years before the crucifixion of our Savior. 


THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


LETTERS FROM ADINA. 


LETTER I. 


My Dzar Farner: My first duty, as it is my 
highest pleasure, is to comply with your com- 
mand to write you as soon as I arrived at Jerusa- 
lem; and this letter, while it conveys to you 
intelligence of my arrival, will confirm to you my 
filial obedience. 

I will not fail to write you by every caravan 
that leaves here monthly for Cairo; and if there 
are more frequent opportunities, my love for you, 
dear father, and sympathy for you in your sepa- 
ration from me, will prompt me to avail myself of 
them. 

My journey hither occupied many days, Rabbi 
Ben Israel says seventeen, but although I kept 
the number up to ten, 1 soon became too weary 
to keep the account. When we traveled in sight 
of the sea, which we did for three days, I enjoyed 
the majesty of the prospect, it seemed so like the 
sky stretched out upon theearth. I also had the 
good fortune to see several barges, which the 


2 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


rabbi, who was always ready to gratify my thirst 
for information, informed me were Roman gal- 
leys, bound some to Sidon and others into the 
Nile; and after one of these latter, asit was going 
to you, I sent a prayer and awish. Just as we 
were leaving the seashore to turn off into the 
desert, I saw a wrecked vessel. It looked go 
helpless and bulky, with its huge black body all 
out of the water, that it seemed to me likea great 
sea-monster, the Behemoth, stranded and dying; 
and I felt like pitying it. The rabbi gave me to 
understand that it had come from Alexandria, 
laden with wheat, bound for Italia, and been cast 
ashore ina storm. How terrible a tempest must 
be upon the sea! I was in hopes to have seen a 
leviathan, but was not gratified in the wish. 
The good rabbi, who seemed to know all things, 
told me that they seldom appear now in the Mid- 
dle Sea, but are seen beyond the pillar of Hercules 
at the world’s end. 

At Gaza we stopped two days. We entered 
the gateway of which Samson carried away the 
gates, and I was shown the hill two miles to the 
southeast where he left them. Many other places 
of interest were shown me, especially the field, 
which our path led across, where he put to flight 
the Philistine hosts with much slaughter. A 
lion’s cave was also pointed out to me, out of 
which came the lion which Samson slew, and 
upon which he made his famous riddles. 

The dry well into which the ten Patriarchs 
lowered the Prince Joseph their brother, was 
also shown me by our Arab guide, and the rock 
on which the Ishmaelites told down the pieces of 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 3 


silver. I fancied the old Arab related the occur- 
rence with more elation than was needful, as if 
he took pride in perpetuating the fact that our 
noble ancestor had once been the purchased slave 
of theirs. I noticed several times during the 
journey that the Ishmaelites of Edom in our 
caravan took every occasion to elevate their own 
race to the disparagement of the sons of Israel; 
indeed, Aben Hussuff, our white-bearded chief of 
the caravan, in a wordy discussion with Rabbi 
Ben Israel at Isaac’s well where we encamped, 
would have it that Isaac was the son of the bond- 
woman, and Ishmael the true heir, but disin- 
herited and cast out through the wiles of the 
bond-woman, who would have her own son the 
inheritor. But of course I was too well in- 
structed in the history of my fathers to give heed 
to such a fable; though the Arabs all took part 
with their chief, and contended for the truth of 
what he asserted as warmly and zealously as the 
learned rabbi did for the truth of his own side. 
The morning of the last day of our journey we 
caught sight of the Sea of Sodom and Gomorrah, 
at a great distance to the east. How my pulse 
quickened at beholding that fearful spot so 
marked by the wrath of Jehovah! Iseemed to 
see in imagination the heavens on fire above it, 
and the flames and smoke ascending as from a 
ereat furnace, as on that fearful day when they 
were destroyed with all that beautiful surround- 
ing plain, which we are told was one vast garden 
of beauty. How calm and still lay now that 
sluggish sea beneath a cloudless sky! We held 
it in sight many hours, and once caught a 


4 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


glimpse of the Jordan north of it, looking like a 
silver thread; yet near as it appeared to be, I 
was told it was a good day’s journey for a camel 
to reach its shores. 

After losing sight of this melancholy lake, the 
glassy sepulcher of cities and their countless 
dwellers, our way lay along a narrow valley for 
some time, when all at once, on reaching an 
eminence, Jerusalem appeared, like a city risen 
out of the earth, it stood before us so unexpect- 
edly ; for we were still, as it were, in the desert; 
yet so near on the side of our approach does the 
desert advance to its walls, that it was not two 
miles off when we beheld it. 

I cannot, my dear father, describe to you my 
emotions on beholding the Holy City! They 
have been experienced by millions of our people 
—they were similar to your own as you related 
them tome. All the past, with its mighty men 
who walked with Jehovah, came up to my mind, 
overpowering me with the amazing weight. The 
whole history of the sacred place rushed to my 
memory, and compelled me to bow my head, and 
worship and adore at the sight of the Temple, 
where God once (alas, why does He no longer 
visit earth and His Holy House?) dwelt in the 
flaming Shechinah, and made known the oracles 
of His will. I could see the smoke of the evening 
sacrifice ascending to the skies, and I inwardly 
prayed Jehovah to accept it forthee and me. 

As we approached the city several interesting 
spots were pointed out to me, and I was bewil- 
dered with the familiar and sacred localities which 
I had known hitherto only by reverential reading 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 5 


of the Prophets. It seemed to me that I was 
living in the days of Isaiah and Jeremiah, as 
places associated with their names were shown 
me, rather than in the generation to which I 
properly belong. Indeed, I have lived only in 
the past the three days I have been in Jerusalem, 
constantly consulting the sacred historians to 
compare places and scenes with their accounts 
and so verify each with a holy awe and inward 
delight that must be felt to be understood; but, 
dear father, you have yourself experienced all 
this, and therefore can understand my emotions. 

We entered the city just before the sixth hour 
of the evening, and were soon at the house of our 
relative Amos, the Levite. Iwas received as if I 
had a daughter’s claim to their embraces; and 
with the luxuries with which they surrounded me 
in my gorgeously furnished apartments, I am 
sure they mean to tempt me to forget the j joys of 
the dear home I have left. 

The Rabbi Amos and his family all desire to be 
commended to you. As it is his course to serve 
in the Temple, I do not see much of him, but he 
seems to be a man of piety and benevolence, and 
greatly loves his children. I have been once to 
the Temple. Its outer court seemed like a vast 
caravansary or market-place, being thronged 
with the men who sell animals for sacrifice, 
which crowded all parts. Thousands of doves in 
large cages were sold on one side, and on another 
were stalls for lambs, sheep, calves, and oxen, 
the noise and bleating of which, with the con- 
fusion of tongues, made the place appear like 
anything else than the Temple of Jehovah. It 


6 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


appears like desecration to use the Temple thus, 
dear father, and seems to show a want of that 
holy awe of God’s house that once characterized 
our ancestors. I was glad to get safely through 
the bazaar, which, on the plea of selling to sac- 
rificers victims for the altar, allows, under color 
thereof, every other sort of traffic. On reaching 
the women’s court I was sensible of being in the 
Temple, by the magnificence which surrounded 
me. With what awe I bowed my head in the 
direction of the Holy of Holies! I never felt 
before so near toGod! Clouds of incense floated 
above the heads of the multitude, and rivers of 
blood flowed down the marble steps of the altar 
of burnt offering. Alas! how many innocent 
victims bleed every morning and evening for the 
sins of Israel! What asea of blood has been 
poured out in the ages that have passed! Whata 
strange, fearful mystery, that the blood of an 
innocent lamb should atone for sins I have done! 
There must be some deeper meaning in these 
sacrifices, dear father, yet unrevealed to us. 

As I was returning from the Temple I met many 
persons walking and riding, who seemed to be 
crowding out of the gate on some unusual errand. 
I have since learned that there is a very extraor- 
dinary man—a true prophet of God, it is believed 
by many, who dwells in the wilderness fifteen 
miles eastward near Jordan, and who preaches 
with power unknown in the land since the days 
of Elijah and Elisha. It is to see and listen to 
this prophet that so many persons are daily going 
outfrom Jerusalem. He lives in a cave, feeds on 
plants or wild honey, and drinks only water, 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. v4 


while his clothing is the skin of a lion; at least 
such is the report. I hope he isa true prophet 
of Heaven, and that God is once more about to 
remember Israel; but the days of the Prophets 
have long passed away, and I fear this man is 
only an enthusiast; but his influence over all who 
listen to him is so remarkable that it would 
seem, and one has almost the courage to believe, 
that he is really endowed with the Spirit of the 
Prophets. | 

Farewell, dear father, and let us ever pray for 
the glory of Israel. Your affectionate 

ADINA. 


8 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


LETTER It. 


My Dear Fatuer: The excellent rabbi, Ben 
Israel, has just made known to me his intention 
of returning to Egypt to-morrow, and has waited 
upon me, to inquire if I had any commands to 
intrust him with, for my friends in Alexandria. 
Instead of this letter, which he will be the bearer 
of to you, I would rather commit myself a second 
time to his care, and instead of placing this 
parchment in your hand, let him lay your child 
again upon your bosom. But it is by your wish, 
dear father, that I am here, and though I sigh to 
behold you once more, I will try to be content in 
my absence from you, knowing that my discon. 
tent would cause sorrow to bow down your gray 
hairs. 

So far as a daughter can be happy from the 
home of her youth, I have everything to render 
me so. The good Rabbi Amos in his kindness 
rec lis your own mild and dignified countenance, 
and Rebecca, his noble wife, my cousin, is truly- 
a mother in Israel. Her daughter Mary, my 
younger cousin, in her affectionate attachment to 
me, shows me how much love I have lost in never 
having had a sister. It is-altogether a lovely 
household, and I am favored by the God of our 
fathers in having my lot, during my exile from 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 9 


my home on the banks of the beautiful Nile, cast 
in so peaceful and holy a domestic sanctuary. 

The street in which we dwell is elevated, and 
from the roof of the house, where I love to walk 
in the evening, watching the stars that hang over 
Egypt, there 1s commanded a wide prospect of 
the Holy City. The stupendous Temple, with its 
terraces piled on terraces of dazzling marble, 
with its glittering fountains shooting upward 
like palm trees of liquid silver, with its massive 
yet beautiful walls and towers, is evcr in full 
sight. The golden arc, that spans the door 
which leads into the Holy of Holies, as it catches 
the sunbeams of morning, burns like a celestial 
coronet with an unearthly glory. I dare not 
gaze steadily upon that holy place, or imagine 
the blinding splendor within, of the visible pres- 
ence of Jehovah, in the Shechinah once present 
there. | 

Yesterday morning I was early on the house- 
top, to behold the first cloud of the day-dawn 
sacrifice rise from the bosom of the Temple. 
When I had turned my gaze toward the sacred 
summit, I was awed by the profound silence 
which reigned over the vast pile that crowned 
Mount Moriah. The sun was not yet risen; but 
the east blushed with a roseate purple, and the 
morning star was melting into its depths. Nota 
sound broke the stillness of the hundred streets 
within the walls of Jerusalem. Night and silence 
still held united empire over the city and the 
altar of God. Iwas awe-silent. I stood with 
my hands crossed upon my bosom and my head 
reverently bowed, for in the absence of man and 


10 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


his voice I believed angels were all around in 
heavenly hosts, the guardian armies of this won- 
drous city of David. Lances of light now shot 
upward and across the purple sea in the East, 
and fleeces of clouds, that reposed upon it like 
barks, catching the red rays of the yet unrisen 
sun, blazed like burning ships. Each moment 
the darkness fled, and the splendor of the dawn 
increased; and when each instant I expected to 
see the sun appear over the battlemented heights 
of Mount Moriah, I was thrilled by the startling 
peal of the trumpets of the priests: a thousand 
silver trumpets blown at once from the walls of 
the Temple, and shaking the very foundations of 
the city with their mighty voice. Instantly the 
housetops everywhere around were alive with 
worshipers! Jerusalem started, as one man, 
from its slumbers, and, with their faces toward 
the Temple, a hundred thousand men of Israel 
stood waiting. A second trumpet peal, clear and 
musical as the voice of God when He spake to our 
father Moses in Horeb, caused every knee to 
bend, and every tongue to join in the morning 
song of praise. The murmur of voices was 
like the continuous roll of the surge upon the 
beach, and the walls of the lofty Temple, like a 
cliff, echoed it back. Unused to this scene, for 
we have nothing like this majesty of worship in 
Alexandria, I stood rather as a spectator than a 
sharer, as it became thy daughter to have been, 
dear father. Simultaneously with the billow-like 
swell of the adoring hymn, I beheld a pillar of 
black smoke ascend from the midst of the Temple, 
and spread itself above the court like a canopy. 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 11 


It was accompanied by a blue wreath of lighter 
and more misty appearance, which threaded in 
and out, and entwined about the other, like a 
silvery strand woven into a sable cord. This 
latter was the smoke of the incense which accom- 
panied the burnt sacrifice. As I saw it rise 
higher and higher, and finally overtop the heavy 
cloud, which was instantly enlarged by volumes 
of dense smoke that rolled upward from the con- 
suming victim, and slowly disappeared melting 
into heaven, I also kneeled, remembering that on 
the wings of the incense went up the prayers of 
the people; and ere it dissolved wholly, I in- 
trusted to it, dear father, prayers for thee and 
me! 

How wonderful is our religion! How myste- 
rious this daily sacrifice, so many hundreds of 
years offered up for the sins of our fathers and of 
ourselves! How, I often have asked myself since 
I have been here, how can the blood of aysheifer, 
of a lamb, or of a goat, take away sin? What is 
the mysterious relation existing between us and 
these dumb and innocent brutes? How can a 
lamb stand for a man before God? The more 
I reflect upon this awful subject the more I am 
lost in wonder. I have spoken to Rabbi Amos of 
these things, but he only smiles, and bids me 
think about my embroidery; for Cousin Mary 
and I are working a rich gold border in the 
phylactery of his next New Year’s garment. 

The evening sacrifice, which I witnessed yes- 
terday, is, if possible, more imposing than that 
ef the morning. Just as the sun dips beyond the 
rall of Gibeah, overhanging the valley of Aijalon, 


12 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID, 


there is heard a prolonged note of a trumpet 
blown from one of the western watch-towers of 
Zion. Its mellow tones reach the furthest ear 
within the gates of the city. All labor at once 
ceases! Every man drops the instrument of his 
toil, and raises his face toward the summit of the 
house of God. A deep pause, as if all held their 
breath in expectation, succeeds. Suddenly the 
very skies seem to be riven, and shaken with the 
thunder of the company of trumpeters that rolls, 
Wave on wave of sound, from the battlements of 
the Temple. The dark cloud of sacrifice ascends 
in solemn grandeur, and sometimes heavier than 
the evening air, falls like a descending curtain 
around the Mount, till the whole is veiled from 
sight; but above it is seen to soar the purer 
incense to the invisible Jehovah, followed by a 
myriad eyes, and the utterance of a nation’s 
prayers. As the daylight faded, the light of the 
altar, hidden from us by the lofty walls of the 
outer court of the Temple, blazed high and 
beacon-like, and lent a wild sublimity to the 
towers and pinnacles that crowned Moriah. 
There was, however, my dear father, last even- 
ing, one thing which painfully marred the holy 
character of the sacred hour! After the blast of 
the silver trumpets of the Levites had ceased, 
and while all hearts and eyes were ascending to 
Jehovah with the mounting wreaths of incense, 
there came from the Roman castle adjoining the 
City of David aloud martial clangor of brazen 
bugles, and other barbarian war-instruments of 
music, while a smoke, like the smoke of sacrifice, 
rose from the height of David’s fortified hill. I 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 13 


was told that it was the Romans engaged in wor- 
shiping Jupiter, their idol god! Oh, when, 
when shall the Holy City be freed from the re- 
proach of the stranger! Alas, for Israel! Her 
inheritance ‘‘is turned to strangers,and her houses 
to aliens.”’ Well said Jeremiah the Prophet, 
**The kings of the earth and all the inhabitants 
of the world would not have believed that the 
adversary and the enemy should have entered 
into the gates of Jerusalem.’’ How truly now 
are the prophecies fulfilled, which are to be found 
in the Lamentations, ‘‘The Lord hath cast off his 
altar, he hath given up into the hands of the 
enemy the walls of her palaces: they have made 
a noise in the house of the Lord, as in the day of 
a solemn feast.’’ For these things I weep, my 
dear father; even now, while I write, my tears 
drop on the parchment. Why is it so? Why 
does Jehovah suffer the adversary to dwell within 
his holy walls, and the smoke of his abominable 
sacrifices to mingle with that of the offerings of 
the consecrated priests of the Most High? 
Surely Israel has sinned, and we are punished for 
our transgressions. It becomes the land ‘‘to 
search and try its ways and turn unto God,’’ if 
perhaps He will return and have mercy and 
restore the glory of Israel. Our kings are the 
servants of the Gentiles. Our laws are no more. 
Our prophets no longer see visions. God has 
gone up in anger, and no longer holds discourse 
with his chosen people. The very smoke of the 
daily sacrifice seems to hang above the Temple 
like a cloud of Jehovah’s wrath. 

Nearly three hundred years have passed since 


14 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


we have had a Prophet—that divine and youthful 
Malachi! Since his day, Rabbi Amos confesses 
that Jehovah has ceased from all known inter- 
course with his people and holy house; nor has 
He made any sign of having heard the prayers or 
heeded the sacrifices that have been offered to 
Him in his time! I inquired of the intelligent 
rabbi if this would always be thus? He replied 
that when Shiloh came there would be a restora- 
tion of all things—that the glory of Jerusalem 
then would fill the whole earth with the splendor 
of the sun, and that all nations should come up 
from the ends of the world to worship in the 
Temple. He acknowledges that we are now 
under a cloud for our sins: but that a brighter 
day is coming when Zion shall be the joy of the 
whole earth. 

My conversation with Rabbi Amos, dear father, 
a conversation which grew out of the subject of 
the Roman garrison occupying the citadel of 
David, and offering their pagan sacrifices by the 
side of our own smoking altars, led me to examine 
the Book of the Prophet Malachi. I find that 
after plainly alluding to our present shame, and 
reproaching the priests ‘‘for causing the people 
to stumble,’’ and thus making themselves ‘‘con- 
temptible and base before all nations,’’ he thus 
prophesies: ‘‘Behold, I will send my messenger, 
and he shall prepare the way before me, and the 
Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his 
Temple; and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier 
of silver, and he shall purify the sons of Levi, 
and purge them as gold and silver, that they may 
offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 15 


Behold,’’ adds the divine seer, ‘‘I will send you 
Elijah the prophet before the coming of the 
great and dreadful day of the Lord.’’ 

These words I read to-day to Rabbi Amos— 
indeed I was reading them when Rabbi Ben Israel 
came in to say that he departs to-morrow. The 
excellent Amos looked grave, graver than I had 
ever seen him look. I feared I had offended him 
by my boldness, and, approaching him, was about 
to embrace him, when I saw tears were sparkling 
in his eyes. ‘This discovery deeply affected me, 
you may be assured, dear father; and, troubled 
more to have grieved than displeased him, I was 
about to ask his forgiveness for intruding these 
sacred subjects upon his notice, when he took 
my hand, and smiling, while a glittering drop 
danced down his snow-white beard and broke 
into liquid diamonds upon my hand, he said, 
**You have done no wrong, child: sit down by 
me and be at peace with thyself. It is too true, 
in this day, what the Prophet Malachi writeth, 
Ben Israel,’’ he said sadly to the Alexandrian 
rabbi: ‘‘The priests of the Temple have indeed 
become corrupt, save the few here and there! It 
must have been at this day the Prophet aimed his 
words. Save in the outward form, I fear the 
great body of our Levites have little more true 
religion and just knowledge of the one God 
Jehovah than the priests of the Romish idolatry! 
Alas, I fear me, God regards our sacrifices with 
no more favor than He looks upon theirs! To- 
day, while I was in the Temple, and was serving 
at the altar with the priests, these words of Isaiah 
came into my thoughts and would not be put 


2 


16 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


aside: ‘To what purpose is the multitude of your 
sacrifices unto me?’ saith the Lord; ‘I am full of 
the burnt-offerings of rams, and the fat of fed 
beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bul- 
locks, or of lambs, or of he goats. Bring no 
more vain oblations; incense is an abomination 
unto me; I am weary to bear them; yea, when 
ye spread forth your hands I will hide mine eyes 
from you; yea, when ye make many prayers I 
will not hear; your hands are full of blood! 
Wash you; make you clean. Cease to do evil; 
learn to do well!’ 

‘‘These terrible words of the prophet,’’ added 
Rabbi Amos, addressing the amazed Ben Israel, 

‘‘were not out of my mind while I was in the 
Temple. They seemed to be thundered in my 
ears by a voice from heaven. Several of the 
younger priests, whose levity during the sacrifice 
had been reproved by me, seeing me sad, asked 
the cause. In reply, I repeated, with a voice 
that seemed to myself to be inspired, the words 
of the prophet. They turned pale and trembled, 
and thus I left them.’’ 

‘I have noticed,’’ said Ben Israel, ‘‘that tice 
is less reverence now in the Temple than when I 
was in Jerusalem a young man; but I find that 
the magnificence of the ceremonies is increased. ’’ 

**Yes,’’ responded Ben Amos, with a look of 
sorrow; ‘‘yes, as the soul of piety dies out from 
within, they gild the outside. The increased 
richness of the worship is copied from the 
Roman. So low are we fallen! Our worship, 
with all its gorgeousness, is as a sepulcher white- 
washed to conceal the rottenness within!’’ 


e 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. tz 


You may be convinced, my dear father, that 
this confession, from such a source, deeply 
humbled me. If, then, we are not worshiping 
God, what do we worship? If Jehovah of Hosts, 
the God of our Fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and 
Jacob, hides his face from our sacrifices, and is 
weary with our incense, whom does Israel wor- 
ship? Naught! We are worse off than our bar- 
barian conquerors, for we have no God; while 
they at least have gods many and lords many, 
such as they are! Alas, alas, the time of the 
judgment of Jerusalem seems to beathand. The 
Lord must suddenly come to his Temple, and as 
a refiner! Iam deeply impressed with the con- 
viction that the day is very near at hand! Per- 
haps we shall see it in our lifetime, dear father! 

Since writing the last line, I have been inter- 
rupted by Mary, who has brought to see me a 
youth, son of a noble Jewish ruler, who was slain 
by the Romans for his patriotic devotion to his 
country. He dwells near the Gazagate, with his 
widowed mother, who is a noble lady, honored 
by all lips that discourse of her. Between this 
young man and Mary there exists a beautiful 
attachment, not ardent enough to be love, but 
sincere enough for the purest friendship; yet 
each day their friendship is ripening into the 
deepest emotion. He has just returned from the 
vicinity of Jericho, where he has been for some 
days past, drawn thither by curiosity, to see and 
hear the new prophet, alluded to by me at the 
close of my last letter, whose fame has spread far 
and wide, and who is drawing thousands into the 
wilderness, to listen to the eloquence that flows 


18 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


from his mouth. The young man had been giv- 
ing Mary so interesting an account of him that 
she desired me also to be a listener! In my next 
I will write you all I heard; and I trust, dear 
father, you will patiently bear with me in all 
things; and believe that, however I may, from 
the investigating character of my mind, venture 
upon sacred mysteries, I shall never be less a 
lover of the God of our Father Abraham, nor 
less the affectionate and devoted Adina to thee! 
Adieu. 
Avria. 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 19 


LETTER III. 


My Dear Faruer: This morning, as I was com- 
ing from the Temple, whither I had gone to wor- 
ship and witness the imposing ceremony of the 
presentation of the First Fruits, I noticed a vast 
pile of edifices crowning the opposite rock, which 
I was told was the Tower of Antonia. It seemed 
to frown sternly down upon the Temple; and 
upon its battlements glittered, at intervals, 
numerous Roman eagles. I had so often heard 
you relate historical events connected with this 
celebrated castle that I regarded it with peculiar 
interest. You, who had so frequently described 
it to me, seemed to stand by my side as I gazed 
upon it. The four towers, one at each corner, 
are still as they stood when you fought from the 
northernmost one, and defended it single-handed 
against the Romans. But now these barbarians 
throng its courts, and their bugles, which have 
sounded from the conquered walls of every land 
on earth, are even heard in the ears of the citi- 
zens of Jerusalem. The insolence and power of 
the Roman garrison have made the beautiful 
walk about the base of the Tower almost deserted ; 
but of this I was not aware; and, attended only 
by my Ethiopian slave, Onia, I lingered to 
admire the splendor of the cloister once sur- 
rounding the treasure-house of the Temple, with 


20 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


its terraces supported by white marble pillars fif- 
teen cubits high, when two Roman soldiers com- 
ing from one of the city gates approached me on 
their way bask to the castle. It was then that I 
saw I was alone, the company who had left the 
Temple with me being gone far in advance of me. 
I drew my veil closely, and would have passed 
them with a rapid step, when one of them placed 
himself in my path, and catching hold of my veil 
tried to detain me. I left it in his grasp and was 
flying, when the other soldier arrested me. This 
was in full view of the castle, and at my shrieks 
the barbarians in the castle laughed aloud. At 
this crisis appeared a young Centurion, who was 
on horseback, coming down the rocky path that 
ascends the Rock of Zion, and calling aloud to 
them, he galloped forward, and with his sword 
put the men, who were drunk with wine, to im- 
mediate flight, and rescued me, at the same time 
sending the two soldiers under arrest into the 
castle. He then addressed me in the gentlest 
manner, and apologized for the rudeness I had 
met with at the hands of his men, saying that 
they should be severely dealt with. Iwas struck 
with his manly beauty, his civility, and his air of 
patrician command, although he could not have 
been more than twenty-eight. In order to escort 
me safely to the streets below, he alighted from 
his horse, and leading him by the rein, walked 
by my side. I confess to you, dear father, I had 
not neached the house of my relative before my 
prejudices against the Romans were greatly 
modified. J had found in one of them as cour- 
teous a person as I had ever met with among my 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. R1 


own countrymen, and for his sake I was willing 
to think better of his barbaric land and people. 
He saw through my prejudices, and how I shrank 
from him as he walked by me; and while we de- 
scended the height he spoke eloquently in defetise 
of his native land, of its fair daughters, of its 
wise men, its brave chiefs, its power and glory, 
and its dominion over the whole earth! 

When I heard him use these last words I 
sighed deeply, for Judah, it is prophesied, 
should have dominion over the whole earth, and 
these Romans therefore hold the dominion that 
rightfully belongs to our people. How is this, dear 
father? How is it that these barbaric men are 
permitted by Jehovah to hold the scepter that is 
the rightful heritage of the Lion of the tribe of 
Judah? How many times in a day, since I have 
been in Jerusalem, have I been reminded of the 
degradations of my people? How is it that these 
enemies of Jehovah, these worshipers of false 
gods, stand in the Holy place, and usurp the 
power that God has given to us? 

I put these questions to Amos, the good priest, 
after I had returned home; for my account of my 
adventure naturally led to a conversation upon 
the Roman dominion over the earth. It appears 
that this noble Centurion is not unknown to 
Rabbi Amos, who speaks of him as one of the 
most popular Roman officers in command in 
the city. Iam glad to hear this. He also gave 
me warning not to approach again near the gar- 
rison points of the town, as the soldiers take 
pleasure in giving annoyance to the citizens. 

While I was writing the above a commotion 


‘ 


22 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


without, as if something unusual was occurring, 
drew me to the lattice, which overlooks the street 
that goes out of the gate to Bethany, one of the 
most frequented thoroughfares in the city. The 
sight that met my eyes was truly imposing, but 
made my heart sink with shame. It was a page- 
ant, with banners, eagles, trumpets, and gilded 
chariots! but not the pageant of a King of Israel, 
like those which dazzled the streets of Jerusalem 
in the days of Solomon and King David! not the 
triumphant passage of an Israelitish prince, but 
of the Homan governor! Preceded by a cohort 
of horse, he rode in a gilded war-chariot, lolling 
at his ease beneath a silken shade of blue silk, 
fringed with gold. The horses were snowy 
white, and covered with silver mail, and adorned 
with plumes. He was followed by another body 
of cavalry, chiefly composed of richly attired 
young men, and at the head of them, looking 
more like aruler and prince than the indolent 
Pilate, I beheld the generous Centurion who had 
aided my escape from the two sdidiers. His eye 
sought the lattice at which I stood, and I drew 
back, but not before he had seen me and saluted 
me. Certainly, father, this youth is noble and 
courteous enough to be a Jew, and should any 
providence cause us to meet again, I shall try 
and convert him from his idolatry to serve the 
living Jehovah. I was not pleased with the 
appearance of the governor. He isadark, hand- 
some man, but too fleshy, and with the counte- 
nance of a man given to much wine; and I learn 
that he is naturally indolent and luxurious, and 
deficient in decision of character. He is a par- 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 2d 


ticular friend of the Roman emperor, and to his 
partiality he owes the governorship here. It is, 
however, better to have a table-lover and idle 
man for our master than a cruel and active 
tyrant like his predecessor, in an insurrection 
against whom was slain that eminent man, the 
father of John, the cousin of Mary, of whom I 
spoke to you in my last letter. 

And this reminds me that I had something to 
relate to you. You will remember, dear father, 
that I alluded to an excitement that is increasing 
every day, in reference to a new prophet, who is 
preaching in the wilderness of Jericho, and whose 
life is as austere as was that of Elijah! For three 
weeks past several parties of citizens have been to 
the valley of Jordan to see and hear him, and 
have so far been carried away by him as to have 
been baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their 
sins. Among these is John, the cousin and be- 
trothed of Mary, who, having heard much said 
of the power with which this man spoke, by those 
who had returned, also went to satisfy his curi- 
osity, and, as he says, with a secret hope that 
God had again remembered Israel, and sent to us 
a prophet of reconciliation. Upon his return we 
saw that his countenance was animated beyond 
its wont, for he is usually of a sad and gentle 
aspect, and that his fine eyes beamed with an 
ardent hope, that seemed new-born in his soul. 
He thus recounted to us his visit to the prophet 
of Jordan: 

‘After leaving the gate and crossing the brook 
and valley of Kedron, I encountered a large com- 
pany, who were ascending the road that winds 


24 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


over the south side of Olivet. These were men, 
women, and children, and they were provided 
with food in baskets, and travel as our people do, 
when they come up to the Feast of the Passover. 
I found on joining them that they were directing 
their steps also toward the wilderness, in order 
to hear the great prophet, whose fame was in all 
men’s mouths. Among them were priests and 
judges, Sadducees, and Pharisees, and Essenes, 
and even men of no faith; for even in Judah we 
have many ten thousands who believe in no God, 
so long has it been since Jehovah hath visited 
his people! 

‘Passing on ahead of this company, I being 
well-mounted, and they traveling slowly, I at 
length reached the summit of the hill, from which 
I obtained a distant view of the valley of the 
Jordan, and even thought I could make out the 
town of Jericho, though the distance was thirty 
or more miles. I looked back to take a parting 
glance at the city. How like ‘the City of God’ 
it crowned its lordly hills! All the glory of 
Jerusalem, of the past, came before my memory, 
and I sighed that that glory had departed, not in 
the destruction of its edifices, for Jerusalem is 
still magnificent and imposing, but in the down- 
fall of its power. I heard, distant as I was, the 
strains of the Roman bugles, echoing over the 
valleys where the prophets, priests and kings lay 
buried, and reverberating from the Temple walls, 
the sacred echoes of which, aforetime, had been 
awakened by the voice of God! Gethsemane, 
the fair garden of Solomon, where he tried to 
create a second Eden, lay at my feet, its walls 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 25 


broken, and its walks wild and overgrown; here 
and there a fig or an olive, or a palm tree only, 
remaining to tell the passing traveler that here 
was ‘the delight of gardens, the abode of pleasure 
and of mirth, from which were excluded all who 
were sorrowful, that no tears might fall upon its 
enameled floors, dedicated to voluptuous joy.’ 
This description of it, given by our poets, passed 
through my mind as I beheld its melancholy and 
deserted aspect—looking more like a place of 
tears than of joy, as if its shades would invite 
the sorrowful to weep in them, rather than the 
silvery feet of the dancer! 

**T soon reached the pretty town of Bethpage, 
where, at the inn, I beheld several horsemen just 
mounting to go in the direction of Jericho. Sev- 
eral of them I knew, and on joining the caval- 
cade, learned they were for the most part drawn 
out of Jerusalem on the same errand of curiosity 
with myself. But one of them, however, a 
wealthy young noble of Arimathea, was actuated 
by the same holy desire that burned in my 
bosom, a desire that we might, in the prophet 
who was called John, discover a man sent from 
God. The others were bent on commerce, on 
pleasure, on mere idle curiosity, to see one of 
whom every one talked in all the land of Judea. 
As Joseph of Arimathea and I rode together, we 
conversed about the man we expected to see, and 
the different reports which were noised abroad 
respecting him. My companion seemed to be- 
lieve that he was a true prophet, for being very 
well read in the scriptures, he said that the 
seventy weeks of Daniel were now about com- 


26 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


pleted, when the Messiah was to come! I then 
asked him if he believed that the Messiah, who 
was to be ‘a Prince and King, and have dominion 
from the sea to the ends of the earth,’ would 
come in the wilderness, clad in the skins of wild 
beasts? To this he replied that he could not 
regard this prophet as the Messiah, for when the 
Christ should come, he was ‘suddenly to come to 
the Temple,’ and that we should doubtless first 
see him there; but that he was greatly in hopes 
that the prophet we were going to see would 
prove to be the forerunner, foretold by Malachi. 
Having a roll of the Prophet Daniel with me, for 
I took the Prophets along to compare what I 
should hear the preacher of Jordan proclaim, 
with them, I saw to my surprise that not only 
the seventy weeks had about reached their com- 
pletion, but that the expiration of the ‘thousand 
two hundred and ninety days’ drew presently 
nigh! We were both surprised at this coinci- 
dence with the advent of this new prophet; and 
joy and fear trembled in our hearts, tempered 
with hopes we dared not utter. 

“< “Those who have heard him,’ said Joseph, as 
we rode into the village of Bethany, ‘say that he 
publicly proclaims himself the forerunner of the 
Messiah. The opinion of the more ignorant who 
have listened to him is that it is Elijah himself, 
risen to life! while others assert that it is Enoch, 
come down from heaven; and not afew believe 
him to be Isaiah.’ 

‘‘In this manner, conversing, we crossed the 
hill of Bethany, where, tradition says, stood the 
Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, and 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 27 


also where rested the foot of Jacob’s ladder; 
and from which place, it is believed by many, all 
good men after the resurrection shall ascend into 
the third heaven; for it is the common belief 
that the throne of Jehovah is directly above it. 
‘At length, after a long day’s ride, during 
which we had overtaken and passed many large 
companies hurrying forward to hear the prophet, 
also meeting many returning, spreading wonder- 
ful accounts of his eloquence, wisdom, and 
power, we came in sight of Jericho. The city is 
very stately, with its Roman towers and palaces, 
it being the favorite summer resort of the gov- 
ernors. Its situation, in a green valley, was re- 
freshing to the eyes, after our dreary ride all day 
over the broken and barren hills. On our left, a 
mile before you come to the town, we passed the 
ruins of the tower and house of Hiel, who rebuilt 
Jericho in the days of the Kings. To the right 
was the field where the Chaldean army defeated 
our fathers in battle, and took King Zedekiah 
captive; it was now covered with beautiful gar- 
dens, and smiled as if peace had ever dwelt in its 
sweet shades. On an eminence to the north of 
us, about half a league off, Joseph, who had often 
traveled this way, made me take notice of the 
ruins of Ai, and of the hill of ambush, where lay 
the warriors of Joshua, who surprised and cut off 
the city. As we approached the city, I could 
not but recall the period when Israel’s hundred 
thousands, shod with the sandals they had worn 
forty years in the wilderness, marched seven 
times around it. In imagination I heard their 
martial tread shaking the very earth, and beheld 


25 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


the princely Joshua, standing aloof on an emi- 
nence near, directing the solemn march. Iheard 
again the thunder of the trumpets of the hosts of 
God seven times sounded, and saw the proud wall 
of the city fall, darkening the whole heavens with 
the clouds of dust that rolled over the heads of 
awe-struck Israel! But how different was the 
reality! The setting sun was gilding the firmly 
standing towers, turrets, pinnacles, and battle- 
ments of the Roman city, lending to it a splendor 
that moved the soul to admiration; and the blue 
sky bent serenely without a cloud above it; and 
the circling vale, instead of echoing to the tread 
of an armed host, for whom Jehovah fought, was 
now filled with Roman knights and ladies on gay 
parties of pleasure, and processions of maidens 
moving to the cemetery of the tombs, clad in 
snow-white vestments, casting flowers in their 
path, and chanting sacred songs; for it was the 
day in which the daughters of Jericho celebrate 
the hapless fate of the lovely daughter of Jephtha, 
by visiting her sepulcher; for she was born and 
buried in this city, where Jephtha long dwelt. 

‘“At the gate we were stopped by a Roman 
soldier, who demanded our passports and the 
traveler’s tribute, which humiliating affair set- 
tled, we rode into the city; for it was our inten- 
tion to pass the night there, and early in the 
morning walked to the banks of the Jordan, 
where we understood the prophet was teaching 
and baptizing.”’ 

At this point of the narrative of the cousin of 
Mary, dear father, I will close this letter. We 
had all listened with the deepest attention, not so 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 29 


much for the interest it contained in itself, as on 
account of the admirable manner in which he 
recited what he had seen; his face being calmly 
beautiful, his eyes soft and expressive, his voice 
musical, and his whole aspect the true and ex- 
pressive manifestation of the intelligence, gentle- 
ness, amiability, and noble ardor of piety which 
belong to his whole character. In my next I will 
resume his narrative, dear father, for when I 
have given it to you wholly, I have many things 
to ask you to which it gives rise in my mind. 
May the blessing of the God of Israel be upon 
thee, my dear father! 
ADINA. 


30 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVIE. 


LETTER IV. 


My Dear Fatuer: I have had the pleasure to- 
day, not only of hearing from you, but of being 
assured of your continued welfare. The mes- 
sages of parental affection contained in your 
letter are cherished in my heart. The costly 
gifts of your generous love, sent by you with the 
letter, and which were safely delivered from 
your hand into mine, by your faithful servant 
Elec, will be worn by me with all a daughter’s 
pride. Iregret to hear of the death of Rabbi 
Israel, while I rejoice that the high office he held 
with so much dignity has been bestowed upon 
you by the proconsul; for though you may not 
need its emoluments, dear father, such selection 
is a flattering proof of the estimation in which 
you are held by the Roman governor. 

You need not fear, my dear father, that I shall 
be carried away from the faith of Israel by any 
strange doctrines; I will take counsel by your 
wisdom, and be cautious how I adventure in my 
inquiries upon too sacred ground. I have freely 
written to you for your advice, and I trust that 
you will not look upon my inquiries as expres- 
sions of doubt, but as searchings after what is 
true. I know you are read in the law above all 
Jews, and that any difficulties I may meet with 
in observing things here in Jerusalem, especially 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. ol 


in the worship and ceremonies of the Temple, 
you will remove for me. 

In my last letter, which will not reach your 
hands for some days yet, I commenced giving 
you the narrative of John, the cousin of Mary, 
who went down into the wilderness to see and 
hear the prophet of Jordan. Iwill not take it 
upon myself to decide or form an opinion upon 
anything yet, dear father, but state facts, and let 
your wisdom instruct me into the truths that may 
grow out of them. One thing which your letter 
states gratifies me, and gives me confidence; it is 
these words: ‘‘Do not fear that the integrity of 
the laws of Moses, or of the worship of the 
Temple, or the predictions of the Prophets, can 
be moved by any investigations that man can 
make into them. They are founded in truth, 
and will abide forever. The worship of Israel 
fears nothing from inquiry. But while you ask 
and question about sacred things, remember that 
they belong to God, and must be inquired into 
with awful reverence and profound humility. 
Any inquiries made into the prophecies with an 
eye to search out their day of fulfillment are 
proper and useful; and as this day seems to be 
that of fulfillment rather than that of prediction, 
your studies may be suggested and directed by 
heavenly wisdom, and if so they will be guided 
to their true issue. Aslam so far removed from 
you, I cannot judge concerning this prophet 
your first letter named as being in the wilder- 
ness; yetI should not be surprised if the fullness 
of time indicated by Isaiah were near at hand, 
for the events you enumerated seem to proclaim 


32 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


its approach, such as the lax worship in the 
Temple; the worship of the Roman idols on 
Mount Zion; the profanation of the altar; and 
the rule of the heathen over the empire of David. 
Let us fervently pray, my child, for the fulfill- 
ment of the prophecies, which promise Messiah 
to our stricken people! Let us supplicate for 
the rising of the Star of Jacob, the Prince of 
Peace, who shall erect his throne on Mount Zion, 
and whose scepter shall be ascepter of righteous- 
ness; under whose wide dominion Israel shall 
lift up her head and rule the nations. My daily 
prayer, with my face toward Jerusalem, is, that 
I may live to behold the hope of Israel, and with 
my eyes see the splendor of the glory of Shiloh.’’ 

These words of yours, my dear father, give me 
courage. I believe with you that the day of ful- 
fillment of the Prophets is dawning; and perhaps 
is nearer than we believe. When TI have com- 
pleted the history of John’s journey to Jordan to 
hear the prophet, you will understand why I 
speak with such hopeful confidence; and you will 
agree with me that this preacher of repentance is 
not one of the class of false prophets, against 
whose chimeras your letter so properly cautions 
me. 

‘“We arose at dawn,’’ said Mary’s cousin, in 
continuation of his interesting narrative, ‘‘and 
leaving the inn, we took our way out of the city 
by the eastern gate, which we easily found, inas- 
much as a quarter of the city was in motion, and 
moving in the same direction. Here we were 
detained by the Gentile guards for full half an 
hour, till the multitude had become so immense 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 33 


as to tread one upon another, and fill the whole 
street. Nevertheless we had to wait till the 
indolent captain of the gate chose to be disturbed 
in his morning repose, and then bathe his dainty 
limbs, and then break his fast, all which he did 
very deliberately, before he would suffer the gate 
to be opened! Such slaves are we to such mas- 
ters! Oh, when shall arrive the day when, as 
saith Isaiah, ‘our gates shall be opened contin- 
ually; they shall not be shut day nor night, that 
-men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gen- 
tiles, and that their kings may be brought 
captives to our feet.’ 

‘*Having passed out of the gate, my friend of 
Arimathea and myself separated a little from the 
crowd, and crossed the plain toward Jordan, 
which was about a mile and a half off. The 
morning was balmy; the sun made all nature 
glad. The dew reflected a myriad lesser suns, 
and the earth appeared strewn with diamonds. 
For a little way the road lay between fields of 
corn and gardens; but soon it crossed the open 
plain, on which were droves of wiid asses, which 
lifted their small, spirited heads on our approach, 
eyed us with timid curiosity, and then bounded 
off to the wilderness southward with the speed of 
antelopes. As the great body of the people took 
their way obliquely across the plain, we knew 
the prophet must be in that direction, as it 
proved, for we at length found him on the banks 
of Jordan, full half a league below the landing 
and ford, which is opposite Jericho, on the great 
caravan road to Balbec and Assyria, that long 
and weary road so often traveled by our fore- 


34 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


fathers when they have been led into captivity— 
the road which so many kings have watered with 
their tears! We gazed upon it with emotions of 
sadness, and with tearful prayers that Jehovah 
would return and visit once more the remnant of 
his people, and not be angry with us forever! 
After we had approached the Jordan some dis- 
tance above the ford, we beheld the multitude 
listening to the prophet far to the south of us, on 
the edge of the desert, which approaches in this 
quarter very near Jericho. As we traversed the 
banks of the flowing stream, we came all at once 
upon a pillar of stones partly in the water. 
‘This,’ said my companion, stopping, ‘is the 
Mount of Twelve Stones which Israel set up to 
commemorate the passage of Jordan. Here they 
crossed on dry ground.’ 

**T counted them, and found but nine of them 
remaining. What vicissitudes, I reflected, had 
not Israel passed through since the hands of our 
fathers placed that heap together! Generations 
of judges and long lines of kings; captivities 
succeeding captivities; wars, conquests and de- 
feats, and subjection, finally, till we are no longer 
a people; having a king, indeed, but whose 
scepter 18 a mockery—a ,Herod, holding his 
crown at the courtesy of the Imperial Monarch of 
Rome. Alas, with the end of the reign of sucha 
king the scepter will forever depart from Judah!’’ 
he added bitterly. 

‘“Then will Shiloh come!’’ exclaimed my 
cousin Mary, with animation. 

‘“Yes; Judah must be abased to the lowest 
step before she can rise! and with Shiloh king, 





PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 35 


her glory will fill the whole earth,’’ responded 
John, with hope once more beaming in his eyes. 
*“At length we drew near the dark mass of human 
beings which we had beheld afar off, assembled 
around a small eminence near the river. Upon 
it, raised afew cubits taller than their heads, 
stood a man upon whom all eyes were fixed, and 
to whose words every ear was attentive. His 
clear, rich, earnest tones, had reached us as we 
approached, before we could distinguish what he 
said. He was a young man not above thirty, 
with a countenance such as the medallions of 
Egypt give to Joseph of our nation, once their 
prince. His hair was long, and wildly free 
about his neck; he wore a loose sack of camel’s 
hair, and his right arm was naked to the shoul- 
der. His attitude was as free and commanding 
as that of a Caucasian warrior, yet every gesture 
was gentle and graceful. With all his ringing 
and persuasive eloquence there was an air of the 
deepest humility on his countenance, combined 
with an expression of the holiest enthusiasm. 
The people listened eagerly to him, for he spake 
like the Prophets of old, and chiefly in their 
prophetic words! Huis theme was the Messiah: 

** “Oh, Israel, return unto the Lord thy God, 
for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity,’ he was 
saying aS we came up, as if in continuation of 
what had come before. ‘Take with you words, 
and turn unto the Lord, and say unto Him: Take 
away all iniquity and receive us graciously. 
Behold, He cometh who will heal your backslid- 
ing, and will love you freely! He will be as the 
dew unto Israel! He shall grow as the lily, and 


36 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


cast forth his roots as Lebanon! His branches 
shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive 
tree, and his fruit shall be for the healing of the 
nations! They that dwell under his shadow shall 
return and dwell evermore; and it shall come to 
pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the 
.Lord shall be delivered, for beside him there is 
no Savior.’ 

‘** “Of whom speaketh the prophet these thangs?’ 
asked one who stood near me, of his neighbor, 
and then of me, for by this time we had taken - 
places as close to the prophet as we were able; 
for I did not wish to lose one word that should 
fall from the lips of a man who could thus empty 
cities, and people the wilderness with their in- 
habitants. 

** ‘Of Messiah—listen!’ answered him, a Scribe 
near, as if not pleased to have his attention inter- 
rupted by his side talk. ‘His words are plain. 
Hear him.’ 

‘* “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, for the day of 
the Lord cometh!’ continued the prophet, in «@ 
voice like that of a silver trumpet; ‘for behold, 
the day is at hand when I will bring again the 
captivity of Judah. Put ye in the sickle, for the 
harvest is ripe! The day is at hand when the 
Lord shall roar out of Zion and utter his voice 
from Jerusalem.’ 

‘* “Art thou not Elias?’ asked one, aloud. 

“* *T am he of whom it is written, the voice of 
one erying in the wilderness, make straight a 
highway for our God. The day of the Lord is at 
hand. Iam but the herald who is sent before to 
prepare the way of the Lord!’ 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 37 


** “Art thou not the Messiah?’ asked a woman, 
who stood near him, and seemed to worship his 
very lips. 

** “He who cometh after me is mightier than I, 
whose shoes I am not worthy to bear!’ he re- 
sponded, in the deepest humiliation of manner. 
‘He who cometh after me hath his fan in his 
hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor and 
gather the wheat into the garner; but will burn 
up the chaff with unquenchable fire. Therefore, 
repent ye, repent ye, take words and return unto 
the Lord your God. Repent and be baptized for 
the remission of your sins; for the day cometh 
which shall burn as an oven, and take heed that 
ye be not consumed! The ax is laid at the root 
of the tree; therefore every tree that bringeth 
not forth good fruit shall be hewn down and 
cast into the fire.’ 

*« ‘Master,’ said a Levite, ‘dost thou speak 
these things to us, who are of Israel, or to these 
Gentiles and Samaritans?’ for there were not a 
few Roman soldiers among the multitude, drawn 
hither by curiosity, and also many people from 
Samaria, nay, even from Damascus. 

** “Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saith 
the Lord, for my people hath committed two 
evils; they have forsaken me, the fountain of liv- 
ing waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken 
cisterns, that can hold no water. The Lord hath 
made me this day an iron pillar and brazen wall 
against the whole land—against the kings of 
Judah, against the princes thereof, against the 
priests thereof, and against the people of the 
land! and yet thou sayest, O Israel, thou hast 


38 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


not sinned! Thine own wickedness shall correct 
thee, and thy backsliding shall reprove thee. 
Repent and do works meet for repentance, every 
one of you, for ye have polluted theland; neither 
say, where is the Lord that brought us up out of 
the land of Egypt? I am provoked to anger 
every day by your hardness of heart and stiff- 
neckedness. Amend, amend your doings! Trust 
not in lying words, saying, The Temple of the 
Lord, The Temple of the Lord, The Temple of 
the Lord! Ye have made it aden of robbers! 
Your sacrifices therein are become an abomina- 
tion to the Lord!’ 

‘* “This would touch us who are priests, mas- 
ters,’ said a priest, with a crimson brow. ‘We 
are not robbers.’ 

‘**«Thus saith the Lord,’ answered the youth- 
ful prophet, as if it were God himself, speaking 
from Horeb, so that we trembled as we heard 
him: ‘Woe be unto the pastors that destroy my 
sheep; I will visit upon you the evil of your 
doings. How is the gold become dim—how is 
the most fine gold changed! The precious sons 
of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they 
esteemed? Her priests were purer than snow! 
they were whiter than milk; they were more 
ruddy in body than rubies; their polishing was 
of sapphire! Their visage is blacker than coal; 
they feed the children of my people with ashes 
for bread! Woe to Zion, for the sins of her 
prophets and the iniquities of her priests! Run 
ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, 
and seek in the broad places thereof, saith the 
Lord, if you can find a man that executeth judg- 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 39 


ment, that seeketh truth! Though they say the 
Lord liveth, surely they swear falsely. Hear ye 
this, O priests, and hearken, ye house of Israel! 
Woe unto you, ye priests, for ye have trans- 
gressed. I have seen in the prophets of Jerusa- 
lem a horrible thing; they commit adultery and 
walk in lies, saith the Lord. My people have 
transgressed for lack of knowledge! Therefore I 
will reject thee, saith the Lord; thou shalt be no 
priest to me since thou hast forgotten the law of 
thy God. Like people, like priests! Therefore 
doth the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth 
therein languisheth. Therefore do swearing and 
lying, and killing and stealing, and committing 
adultery, break out in the land, because there is 
no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in 
the land. Woe unto you, ye priests!’ Many of 
the Levites then turned and left him, and went 
away greatly murmuring; and they would gladly 
have done the prophet a mischief, but they feared 
the multitude, who said he had spoken only the 
truth of them. ‘But the elders of Israel, who are 
not priests, and who spring from Abraham, shall 
be saved by Abraham, master?’ asserted, or 
rather inquired, a rich ruler of our city, after the 
tumult caused by the withdrawal of the Levites 
had a little subsided. The youthful prophet 
rested his dark eyes, like two suns, upon the old 
man’s face, and said impressively, ‘Begin not 
to say within yourself, we have Abraham to our 
father, for I say unto you,’ he added, pointing to 
the pebbles at his feet, ‘that God is able of these 
stones to raise up children unto Abraham. He 
is of Abraham who doeth righteousness; there- 


40 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


fore repent, and bring forth fruits meet for 
repentance.’ 

Here was heard some murmuring among a 
group of many Pharisees and Sadducees at these 
words, when, sending his lightning glance toward 
them, as if he could read their very hearts, he 
cried : 

‘* “OQ generation of vipers! Who hath warned 
you to flee from the wrath to come? The day 
cometh when he who is to come shall sit asa 
purifier by his furnaee. Bring forth, therefore, 
fruits meet for repentance. Wash thy heart 
from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. 
And ye, daughters of Judah, repent you of the 
vain thoughts that lodge within you,’ cried he, 
addressing many females in rich apparel and 
plaited hair, ‘gird ye with sackcloth, lament and 
howl; put away these abominations out of my 
sight, and fear the Lord. Though thou clothest 
- thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thy- 
self with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest 
thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make 
thyself fair; for Lhear the voice of the daughters 
of Zion bewailing themselves, and spreading 
forth their hands in the day when they are 
spoiled and despised for their iniquities. Repent 
ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand! 

‘* ‘Hear, O Israel! AmtTIa God at hand and 
not a God afar off, saith the Lord. Hear ye the 
message of the Most High, for the day hath come 
when Jehovah shall once more visit the earth 
and talk face to face with his creatures. Behold 
the day hath come, saith the Lord, that I will 
raise unto David a righteous branch, and a king 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 41 


to reign and prosper, who shall execute judg- 
ment and justice on the earth. 

** “Behold the day hath come, saith the Lord, 
in which Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall 
dwell safely, when I will set up shepherds over 
them, which shall feed them, and they shall lack 
nothing! 

‘** ‘Arise! shine, for thy light is come! Hear, 
O Israel! for Zion’s sake I will not hold my 
peace; I will not rest until the righteousness 
thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation 
thereof as a lampthat burneth. Arise, shine, for 
thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is 
risen upon thee! Darkness covereth the earth, 
and gross darkness the people, as saith Hsaias; 
but the Lord shall rise upon thee, and his glory 
shall be seen upon thee. The Gentiles shall 
come to his light, and kings to the brightness of 
his rising. He shall be called the Lord our 
Righteousness, and shall be a crown of glory in 
the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the 
hand of thy God. The Spirit of the Lord is 
upon me to proclaim the acceptable year of his 
coming. He hath set me a watchman upon thy 
walls, O Israel, and I may neither hold my peace 
day nor night, nor keep silence, nor seek rest, 
till he come, who hath sent me forth his meés- 
senger before his face. How can I refrain from 
my message of joy? How shall I not speak of 
hisfame? His sons shail come from afar, and his 
daughters shall be nursed at his side. The peo: 
ple of the nations shall fly as a cloud, and as 
doves to their windows, to behold, fali down, 
and adore him. The isles shall wait fer his law, 


42 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


and kings shall minister unto him, even unto the 
Holy One of Israel. Saith he, I, the Lord, am 
thy Savior and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of 
Jacob. Say ye to the daughers of Zion, Behold, 
thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with 
him, and his work before him. Ho, every one 
that thirsteth,’ he now cried, raising his voice 
like the chief of a host, till the furthest heard, 
“gome ye to the waters; yea, come buy wine and 
milk, without money and without price. Incline 
your ear and come unto him. Hear and your 
soul shall live. Repent, keep justice and judg- 
ment; and prepare a contrite heart to offer him’ 
when thou shalt behold him; for thus saith the 
High and Lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, 
whose name is Holy, I dwell in the high and holy 
place with him, also, that is of a contrite and 
humble spirit. Peace, peace to him that is afar 
off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord. 

‘* “Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his 
praise from the ends of the earth: for thus saith 
God the Lord, he that created the heavens and 
stretched them out; he that spread forth the 
earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that 
giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit 
to them that walk therein: behold my servant 
whom I uphold—mine elect in whom my soul 
delighteth: I have put my spirit upon him; he 
shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles; a 
bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking 
flax shall he not quench. I, the Lord, saith 
Jehovah, addressing the only begotten, I have 
called thee in righteousness, and will hold thy 
hand an@ keep thee, and will give thee for a 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 435 


covenant of the people, for alight of the Gentiles, 
to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners 
from the prison. I am the Lord, that is my 
name, and my glory will I not give to another; 
yet have I made him my first-born, higher than 
the kings of the earth. Look unto him, and be 
ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for unto him 
every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. 
Our Redeemer, the Lord of Hosts is his atti 
the Holy one of Israel!’ 

**All this was spoken with an enthusiasm and 
fire that made every pulse bound. 

**Such,’’ said John, ‘‘was the extraordinary 
style of this mighty prophet’s preaching, and to 
those who read the books of the Prophets, every 
word shone with the brightness of the sun. I 
fancied I had only to look around to behold the 
Messiah! The immense multitude stood awed 
and silent when he had ceased. I gazed upon 
him with the most adoring reverence. My heart 
filled with holy joy; forI believed and knew that 
God had remembered Zion, and was about to dis- 
play his wonders more remarkably on earth than 
ever had been witnessed before. Leaving the 
eminence, he said, and I thought he fixed his 
eyes on me, ‘Ye who desire to be baptized for the 
remission of sins, that your hearts may be 
cleansed for the visitation of this Holy One of 
God, follow me to the river side!’ Thousands 
obeyed, and I one of the first. I trembled all 
over with a sweet pleasure, when he took me by 
the hand, and asked me if I believed in Him who 
was to come, and would prepare the way for His 
abode in my heart by being baptized, which rite 


44 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


also was to be a sign and pledge that when I 
should behold the Shiloh rising I should ac- 
knowledge Him. Not less than one thousand 
were baptized by him that day in Jordan, con- 
fessing their sins, and hopes of pardon through 
the name of the unknown One, who was soon to 
come. Among these were Pharisees and Sad- 
ducees, rulers and lawyers, and one gray-headed 
Roman soldier. Joseph of Arimathea was not 
baptized, as he said he wished to examine into 
the extraordinary subject fully before he could 
believe. 

‘After the baptism, the whole company dis- 
persed in groups, and the prophet returned into 
the wilderness till the cool of the evening, where 
his repast was the wild honey of the desert, and 
the locust-berry of the ravines. When he reap- 
peared, he again spoke to an increased multi- 
tude. In this second sermon, he explained more 
clearly the application of the glittering chain of 
prophecies he had given utterance to in the 
morning, to Messias, and thus enabled me to see 
more clearly the true character of the expected 
Messias than I had before done.’’ 

With this remark of his, dear father, I close 
my long letter. I make no comments. I will 
only say that my expectations are actively 
awake, and that I am looking, with thousands of 
others, for the near advent of the Messiah. 
Your daughter, 

AvINA. 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID, 45 


LETTER YV. 


My Dear Farner: Although but three days 
have elapsed since I completed my last letter to 
you, [am so solicitous to have your judgment 
and counsel upon the remarkable events now 
occupying the public mind of Israel that I can- 
not withhold giving you the further relation of 
the remaining circumstances connected with the 
visit of Mary’s cousin, John, to the divine 
prophet of Jordan. Inasmuch as his words have 
made a deep impression upon my mind, and 
moved me to believe with him in the truth of 
this prophet’s words, it is proper that you 
should know with me all that he has told me, 
and which have influenced my feelings and opin- 
ions, in order that you may judge of the weight 
and value at which all I have heard is to be 
estimated; and be assured, dear father, that I am 
ready to be governed in all things by your wis- 
dom and learning. Listen, then, with your 
usual goodness, to the residue of this young 
man’s narration. 

‘‘After the prophet had ended his second dis- 
course, and baptized two hundred more in the 
sparkling waters of Jordan,’’ resumed the elo- 
quent cousin of Mary, ‘‘he sent them away to 
the city to lodge and buy meat; for few, in their 


46 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


eagerness to hear him, had brought provisions 
with them. Many, before leaving him, drew near 
to receive his blessing of love, and it was touch- 
ing to see venerable men, with locks shining 
like silver, and leaning upon a staff, bend their 
aged heads before the youthful Elias, as if in 
acknowledgment of his divine commission. 
Mothers also brought their infants, that he might 
bless them; and youths and maidens knelt rever- 
ently at his feet in tears of love and penitence. 
Calmly he stood upon the green shores, like an 
angel alighted upon earth, and blessed them in 
words all new to our ears, but which thrilled to 
our hearts with some secret power that agitated 
us with trembling joy. 

‘* “In the name of the Lamb of God, I bless 
thee!’ ”’ 

‘“What can be the meaning of these words?’’ 
asked Mary, with her gentle earnestness. Her 
betrothed could only reply that he knew not. 

‘At length, one after another, the multitude 
departed, save a few who encamped beneath trees 
on the banks of the river. Joseph of Arimathea 
and I were left almost alone standing near the 
prophet, and regarding him with reverential curi- 
osity. The sun was just disappearing over the 
distant towers of Jericho, and painting with the 
richest purple the hills between the river and 
Jerusalem. Jordan, catching its reddening radi- 
ance, rolled past like a river of liquid gold 
embanked in emerald. The brow of the prophet, 
lighted up by a sun ray that shone between the 
branches of a pomegranate tree, seemed like the 
face of Moses when he came down from Sinai, a 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. AY 


glory of light. He appeared rapt in heavenly 
meditation, and we stood silent and gazed upon 
him, not daring to speak. At length he turned 
toward us, smiled, and saluting us, grasped the 
crook or staff on which he had been leaning, for 
he was weary and pale with his labors of the day, 
and slowly walked down the shore in the direc- 
tion of the wilderness. He had not advanced 
many steps when I felt an irresistible impulse to 
follow him. I burned to talk with him—to sit 
at his feet, and ask him questions about the great 
things I had heard him utter in both of his dis- 
courses! JI wished him to explain and unfold 
what had seemed mysterious, and yet teeming 
with mighty revelations. I panted for light—for 
knowledge. I yearned to have him open the 
scriptures to me, and give me that illuminated 
understanding of them which he possessed. I 
therefore said to my companion: 

** “Let us follow him, and learn more of these 
great things which we have this day heard.’ 

‘‘Joseph, like myself, being anxious to hold 
converse with him, at once assented, and we pro- 
ceeded slowly after him, as he moved in a con- 
templative mood along the desert path. The sun 
had already gone down, and the full moon rose 
on the opposite shore, and the prophet stopped 
as if to gaze upon its autumnal beauty. We 
drew near to him. He beheld us, but did not 
avoid us; seeing which I advanced with timid 
confidence, and said: 

** “Holy prophet of the Most High God, wilt 
thou permit two young men of Israel to speak to 
thee, for our hearts yearn toward thee with love?’ 


48 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


** “And we would fain keep thee company in 
the desert, rabbi,’ added Joseph, ‘for it does not 
seem well for thee to dwell thus alone.’ 

‘* “But chiefly,’ said I, ‘we would inquire of 
thee touching the advent of the Mighty Person- 
age whose near coming thou dost foretell.’ 

** ‘Friends,’ said the prophet, in a calm and 
serene manner, ‘I am a dweller in the desert, and 
alone, from choice. I approach men only to pro- 
claim my message. The delights of earth are 
not for me. My mission is one. Its duration is 
short. Its aim worthy the greatest prophet of 
God, yet am I, the least of them, not worthy to 
be called a prophet; and before the splendor of 
Him whom I announce to the world, I am the 
dust of the balance. If thou hast sought me to 
search after knowledge, come and sit down with 
me upon this rock, and let me hear what thou 
hast to say, that I may answer thee and go my 
way.’ 


° 
t ica 


his was said softly, gently, almost sadly, 
and in atone that made me love him more and 
more. I could have cast myself upon his bosom 
and wept there; for I was deeply touched that 
one should be chosen by Jehovah to become his 
prophet to earth, and yet show such lowliness of 
heart and sincere humility. Weseated ourselves, 
one on either side of him, for he refused to per- 
mit us to place ourselves upon the ground at his 
feet, saying reproachfully, as he did to those 
whom we had seen kneel to him, ‘I, also, am a 
man!’ The scene and the hour were well fitted 
for such a converse as we were about to hold. 
The broad disk of the moon poured a flood of 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 49 


orange-tinted radiance full upon ug, and lenta 
hallowed softness to the divine countenance of 
the youthful prophet. The Jordan, dark as 
India’s dye, darted swiftly past at our feet, be- 
tween its deeply-shaded banks, sending up to our 
ears the faintest murmur of its pebbly passage. 
Above our heads swelled the vaulted arch of the 
Temple of Jehovah, with its myriad of altar fires. 
To our left lay Jericho, just visible, looking like 
a black mass of castellated rock, unilluminated 
save by a single watchfire which burned upon its 
loftiest tower. Behind us stretched the desert 
waste, cheerless and yet grand, in its desolate 
distances. Afar off rose upon the air, aud was 
borne to us at intervals, the voice of a singer in 
one of the camps; and near us, upon an acacia 
tree, sat a solitary bulbul, which ceaselessly sang 
its sweet and varied hymn to the listening moon. 

** “All things praise God—shall we be silent?’ 
said the prophet. ‘Let us sing the evening 
hymn of the Temple.’ He then commenced, ina 
rich, melodious chant, such as I had never heard 
from the priests, our sacred psalm to the whole 
creation of God. We joined our voices with his, 
and the tide of praise floated over the waters, 
and echoed and re-echoed from the opposing 
shores, as if the banks and stream, trees, hills 
and sky, had found voice as well as we: 


*« «Praise! praise! praise ye the Lord! 
Praise Him in the heights! Praise Him in the seas? 
Praise Him men of Israel! Praise ye the Lord! 
For He exalteth high His people, 
And reigneth evermore! 


50 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


Praise Him all ye angels! Praise Him all ye hosts! 
Praise Him sun and moon, and all ye stars of light! 
Praise Him fireand hail! Praise Him storm and snows! 
For He judgeth the earth in righteousness, 
And reigneth evermore! 


Praise! praise! praise ye the Lord! 7 

Praise Him winged fowl, and herds, cattle, and all beasts! 

Praise Him kings and people, princes, priests, and judges! 

Praise Him youths and maidens, old men and young 
children! 

Praise the name, let them praise the name, 

Praise the name of the Lord God of Hosts! 

For his name alone is excellent, 

His glory above the heavens: 


Israel is His first born—a people well-beloved! 
Praise! let Israel, therefore, praise Him! 
Praise Him evermore, 
Evermore, 
Ever, evermore! 


**Never shall I forget the effect produced upon 
my inmost being by this hymn, sung at such a 
time, and in sucha place, and in such a com- 
pany. The prophet sang as if he was leading a 
choir of angels. My heart leaped at the chorus, 
as if it would break out, take wing, and leave the 
earth! When we called on the winds and the 
fowls of the air to praise Jehovah with us, it may 
be fancy, but the thrilling voice of the bulbul 
seemed to pour from its throat a wilder, richer, 
more joyous tide of song, and the audible wind 
bent the adoring trees, and mingled its mystic 
whispers with the psalm of men! Surely, 
thought I, it is good for me to be here, for this 
is none other than the gate of paradise! 

‘‘After a few moments’ silence, the prophet 
spoke and said: 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 51 


** “You sought me, brethern of Israel, can I do ~ 
aught for you?’ 

** “We would hear more, great prophet, touch- 
ing this mighty man, if man he may be termed, 
who is to come after thee,’ said Joseph. 

***T can tell thee but little, my brethren, save 
what thou hast heard from me this day. ‘The 
future is veiled. I bear a message, indeed, butI 
may not break the seal and read. Iam but the 
courier of God to man. ‘To you it will be given 
to know what is now unknown to me. Happy, 
thrice happy are ye who will behold face to face 
the Divine One whom I can only behold afar off. 
If it be permitted me to see him, it will be but 
for a brief space, for when he cometh I depart, 
my errand is done. Blessed are those who live 
to witness his glory, and to hear the gracious 
voice of God that proceeds from his anointed 
lips.’ 

** *When will be his advent, and with what 
form and power cometh this Divine being?’ I 
asked. 

** “Agsaman, but not with comeliness of form 
that men should desire him. His appearance 
will be humble, lowly, and meek.’ 

** “Yet you said to-day, rabbi,’ I continued, 
‘that his power should be infinite, and that of his 
kingdom there should be no end. You spoke of 
the glory of his dominions, and the humiliation 
of Gentile kings beneath his scepter.’ 

*< «This I cannot explain—it is a mystery to 
me! Ispeak as God, by whom Iam sent, gives 
me utterance. 1 know that He who cometh after 
me is greater than I, the latchet of whose shoes I 
am not worthy to unloose!’ 


U. OF ILL. LIB. 


52 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


** “You taught us this evening that he would 
be the Lord from heaven; and yet that Hsaias 
saith he will be despised and rejected of men, 
wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for 
our iniquities!’ 

‘“‘ «The Spirit of God teaches me that these 
words apply to Shiloh; but I cannot comprehend 
how these things.can be,’ he answered, with deep 
sadness. 

‘* “May Iremind you, good rabbi,’ said Joseph, 
‘that you taught us how that this Divine Person- 
age should die, though Lord of Life, and be 
numbered in his death with transgressors, though 
the Holy One of God!’ 

‘* ‘And such will be the events that are ordained 
to happen; but seek not to know what no man 
hath had revealed to him. The Divine Messiah 
himself must be his own interpreter. Blessed 
will be the eyes that behold Him, and listen to 
the wisdom of His mouth, and keep the law of 
His lips!’ 

** ‘May I ask you, holy prophet of the Lord,’ 
said Joseph, ‘how is it that He whom you are 
sent by God to bear witness to can be the Deliv- 
erer of Israel, when you predict for him so sad a 
' fate? Messiah is to restore Jerusalem, and the 
glory of the Temple, and the splendor of its wor- 
ship, so saith Esaias, so say Ezra and Jeremiah. 
He is called a Mighty Prince, a King, the Re- 
deemer of Israel, who shall rule the nations and 
have dominion from sea to sea, and from the 
river to the ends of the earth! We, therefore, in 
the Messias of the Prophets, have looked fora 
powerful potentate, who shall reign in Jerusalem 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 53 


over the whole earth, and subdue all nations, 
bringing their kings captive at his footstool, and 
binding their princes with chains; before whom 
every knee shall do homage—a Monarch who shall 
not leave a heathen sandal to tread on the sacred 
soil of Judea, and who shall establish the wor- 
ship of Jehovah in every place where now rises a 
temple of idolatry.’ 

*< “His kingdom is not of this earth,’ answered 
the prophet impressively. 

** “How then can we interpret the Prophet 
David, who maketh the Lord to say: I have set 
my King upon my holy hill of Zion. Also, how 
shall we interpret those sayings of Esaias, who, 
prophesying of the blessed Christ of God, hath 
these words: 

** “Of the increase of his government and peace 
there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, 
and upon his kingdom, to order it and to estab- 
lish it with judgment and with justice, from 
henceforth, even forever ?’ 

‘“ <T know not. These secrets are with God. 
I can reveal nothing. I am but the trumpet 
through which Jehovah speaks; I know not the 
words I utter. This I know, that the least child 
and lowliest hireling that liveth in the day of 
Messias is greater than I. Iam the last of the 
prophets. I stand on the threshold of that glori- 
ous kingdom, the greatness and brightness of 
which they saw afar off, like some heavenly, in- 
distinct vision. Nearer than they, Iam permitted 
to catch clearer glimpses of its glory, and it may 
be vouchsafed to me to see more than I now see; 
but of thisI baveno certain revelation. It is for 


54 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


me to open the last door that leads out from the 
night of prophecy into the glorious dawn of the 
day of fulfillment; but Iam not permitted to 
enter beyond the threshold, or share in its bless- 
ings. All who come after me will be preferred 
before me. But the will of Jehovah be obeyed! 
I am his creature, and to murmur becomes not 
dust. Rather let me rejoice that the day-star is 
about to rise, though his beams shine on all the 
- earth but me.’ This was said with the most 
touching pathos. 

‘“We were both deeply moved, I myself even 
to tears, at hearing these words spoken by him. 
My heart yearned toward him with the most 
sacred sympathy. I sank on my knees, and kiss- 
ing his hand, bathed it with my tears. 

He gently raised me, and said in a sweet voice: 

** “Brother beloved, thou shalt see Him to 
whom I bear witness, and He will love thee, and 
thou shalt repose in His bosom!’ At this say- 
ing,.’ continued the cousin of Mary, whose voice 
was tremulous with lively sensibility as he spoke 
hereof, ‘‘I burst into tears; and, rising, I walked 
a little ways apart, and lifting up my eyes toward 
heaven, I prayed the God of our fathers that I 
might be found worthy of this blessed honor. 

** “And shall I also behold this mighty Son of 
God?’ asked Joseph, with solicitude. 

““The prophet took his hand in his, and fixing 
upon him his eyes of prophetic brightness, said 
slowly, and in tones awe-inspiring and painfuily 
sorrowful: 

** «Thou shalt one day bear him in thine arms, 
and lay him upon a-couch which theu hast pre 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 55 


pared for thine own repose. Thou knowest not 
now what I say but thou shalt remember it when 
it cometh to pass!’ 

‘*When he had thus spoken, he rose, and wav- 
ing his hand to us both, he walked rapidly away 
toward the desert, and was soon lost to the eye 
in the obscurity of the darkness which hung 
over it. 

** *Didst thou hear him?’ at length, after some 
minutes’ pause, asked Joseph of me. ‘What can 
his words mean? they are prophetic of some fear- 
ful event. His eyes betrayed some terrible 
meaning. My heart is troubled.’ 

“* “And mine rejoiceth,’ I answered. ‘We shall 
see Him! I shall be near Him! Oh, if He be like 
this sweet prophet of God, I shall love Him with 
all my soul’s being. How wonderful that we 
are to be thus associated with this Divine Per- 
son! Welcome the hour of His blessed advent!’ 

** “Wilt thou welcome the advent of a sufferer ?’ 
said a voice so near that it startled us by _ its 
abruptness; and, looking round, we saw, stand- 
ing within the shadow of a wild olive tree, a 
young man who was a stranger, but to whom I 
afterward became deeply attached. His face was 
pale and intellectual, and his form slight, but of 
the most symmetrical elegance. His question at 
once made me sorrowful, for it recalled the sad 
prophecies of Hsaias. 

** “He is also to be King and Monarch of the 
world, and infinitely holy and good,’ Isaid. ‘If 
thou hast been near, thou hast heard the glorious 
things the prophet has spoken of Him.’ 

** *T have been near—I was reclining beneath 


56 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID 


this tree, when you seated yourself there. Be 
not deceived. The divine man who is to come is 
to be a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. 
He is to be rejected by Israel, and despised by 
Judah. Those whom he comes to bless will 
despise him for his lowliness and obscurity. Haisi 
life will be a life of tears, and toil, and heaviness 
of heart, and he will at last be cut off from 
among the living, with the ignominy due only to 
a transgressor. Dost thou welcome the advent of 
a sufferer?’ 

‘* “But how knowest thou this? Art thou a 
prophet?’ LTasked, with surprise and admiration. 

** “No, brother, but I have read the Prophets. 
I heard, moreover, the words of this holy man, 
sent from God, and he dwells more on the humil- 
ity of Christ than on his kingly grandeur. Believe 
me, the kingdom of Shiloh is not of this world. 
It cannot be of this world, if such is to be his life 
and death; and that it is to be his life, Hsaias 
clearly states. Let me read to you his words.* 
He then took aroll of parchment from his bosom, 
and read by moonlight that mysterious and inex-— 
plicable passage which beginneth with the words : 
‘Who hath believed our report?’ When he had 
ended, and perceived the assenting impression he. 
had made upon our minds, he resumed: ‘This is 
not the history of a prosperous earthly monarch, 
but rather the painful record of a life of humilia- 
tion, of shame, and of contempt.’ 

‘* ‘But thou dost not say, brother,’ said Joseph, 
with some warmth, ‘that the sacred person borne 
witness to by this prophet is to be an object of 
contempt?’ 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF @®avVID. 5? 


** “Does not Hsaias say that he will be despised, 
beaten with stripes, rejected of men, imprisoned, 
and put to death as a transgressor of the law?’ 

«* «There can be no question but that Hsaias 
speaks of the Messiah,’ I remarked. 

** «This prophet of Jordan now bears full testi- 
mony to Esaias, and plainly maketh application 
of his words to Him whom he has come before- 
hand to proclaim,’ answered the young man, with 
singularly graceful eloquence in all hesaid. ‘Let 
us who have been baptized this day for the remis- 
sion of our sins expect a Messiah of sorrows, not 
a conquering prince. Let us behold one who is 
to humble himself beneath the yoke of human 
infirmities, that he may be exalted, and draw all 
men after him to a kingdom in the heavens.’ 

***But the throne of David—’ objected 
Joseph. 

** “Is at the right hand of God.’ 

***But Jerusalem, and its rule over the 
nations 

** “Jerusalem that is above, is above all.’ 

***But his kingdom that is to be everlast- 
ing 

‘* *Ig where life is everlasting. How can he 
rule an everlasting realm here on earth, without 
living forever, and his subjects also? Read not 
the Prophets so. As Adam fell and lost para- 
dise, so Messias, like a second Adam, must, as 
man, humble himself in human nature, to atone 
for our guilt; and having made full atonement 
for us by his life and his death, he will repur- 
chase the kingdom of paradise for the race of 
man; but he restores it to us not on earth, but 








58 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


translated on high, where the angels still guard 
it in the kingdom of God. It is this kingdom 
which this prophet proclaims as being at hand, 
and the path to which our leader and king can 
only tread through the mire of Adam’s sin, which 
spreads through this world; but without taint of 
sin upon his robes. He being the bearer of our 
iniquities, we shall thereby escape their chastise- 
ment. Healed by his stripes, we shall be free 
from the penalty which our sins demand. Laid 
upon him will be the transgressions of the world; 
and by one mighty sacrifice of himself, thus 
laden, as a sin offering, he shall make atonement 
for the great family of Adam, and restore our 
race to reconciliation with Jehovah. Such is to 
be our look for Messiah. Alas, while we look 
for him, let us mingle tears with our gladness, 
and humble ourselves, that one so holy and excel- 
lent should be destined to endure these things 
for our sakes; and when we behold him, let us 
sink at his feet in grateful adoration of his love 
and charity, of his mercy and goodness, of his 
noble self-denial and voluntary upgiving of him- 
self as a sacrifice for us; for there could be no 
higher or more valuable victim than he in the 
universe of God, therefore he hath offered him- 
self, according to the words of tbe prophet, 
recording his offer, Lo, I come to do thy will, O 
God!’ 

‘When the Counc man had spoken, he walked 
away. Impelled by an unconquerable impulse, 
I followed, and took him in my arms, and em- 
bracing him said: ‘Of a truth thou art a prophet! 
Thy words come home to my heart like the echo 
of ancient prophecy.’ 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 59 


** “Nay. I have learned these things from the 
study of the Scripture,’ he said, with angelic 
candor and modesty. ‘But Ihave been aided, 
how much I have no words to tell thee, by one 
who hath wisdom and truth abiding in him 
above all men, and whom it is my happiness to 
have my bosom friend, as he is near my own age. 
If I am wise, or virtuous, or good, or know the 
Scriptures, it is that he hath been my counselor 
and teacher.’ 

‘“**What is his name?’ I asked, ‘for I also 
would go and learn of him.’ 

** *He withdraws from the public eye, and 
hath little converse but with few, and shuns all 
notice. Without his permission I could not take 
thee to him. Yet Iwill ask him, if you desire 
rye 

‘* ‘What is his appearance, and where doth he 
dwell?’ I inquired, more deeply interested. 

** ‘He abides at present at Bethany, my own 
city. He is so beloved by us that we detain him 
as our guest. But he dwelleth at other times 
with his mother, a holy widow of great sanctity 
and matronly dignity, living at Nazareth in 
humble condition, and he contributes by labor to 
her support, with the most exemplary filial piety ; 
thus setting an example to the young men of 
Judah, who in this age make a mock at parental 
restraint, and under the evil pactices which the 
free license of the wicked custom of Corban 
giveth, neglect them, and no more do aught for 
their father or mother. Indeed, no person ever 
approaches and speaks with him without leaving 
him a wiser and better man.’ 


60 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


** ‘Verily,’ said both Joseph and I together, 
‘you have only increased our desire to behold 
him. His appearance must be noble.’ 

** “He possesseth neither beauty of form nor 
comeliness to strike the eye; but there sits upon 
his brow a serene dignity, tempered with mild- 
ness, that commands the respect of age, and wins 
the confiding love of childhood. His eyes beam 
with a light, calm and pure, as if shining from 
interior holy thoughts, and they rest upon you 
when he speaks with a tenderness of love that is 
like the dewy light of the young mother’s gaze 
when she bends in silent happiness and tears over 
the face of her first-born. He never smiles, or 
rather his face is one soft sunshine of smiling 
rays, tempered in an indescribable manner with 
a settled look of sadness, an almost imperceptible 
shade of permanent sorrow, that seems to fore- 
shadow a life of trial and suffering. When he 
reads from the Prophets, and unfolds to us with 
a wisdom that we can regard only as given him 
from heaven, the great truths that relate to the 
long-looked-for, and, as we now believe, the 
near-present Messiah, he seems to speak by in- 
spiration, yet without emotion, but calmly and 
naturally, in a low-toned voice, that is never 
lifted up at any time, nor ever heard in the 
streets. ’ 

** ‘He must be another prophet,’ said Joseph, 
with deep earnestness. 

‘‘*He does not prophesy nor preach,’ an- 
swered the young man. 

“* “What is his name?’ I asked. 

** ‘Jesus, the Nazarene!’ 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 6L 


**We both promised to remember this name; 
and as our way to Jerusalem lay through Bethany, 
we wished much to call and see him; but this 
step the young man mildly objected to, until, he 
having made known our wishes to him, he then 
might, if he desired to see us, send into Jerusa- 
lem for us to go to Bethany. 

**As the young man was then about to move 
away, L asked him his name, as he had greatly 
drawn out my heart toward him, and I felt that 
if I could be his friend, and the friend of the wise 
young man of Nazareth, who sojourned with him, 
I should be perfectly happy, and have no other 
desire—save, indeed, to live till the Messiah 
came, that I might behold him, and lay my head 
upon his sacred bosom. > 

‘* “My name is Lazarus, the Scribe,’ he an- 
swered, as he took his leave.’’ 

‘“What,’’ interrupted Mary, when her cousin 
had spoken this name, ‘‘then I know him well. 
It is the brother of Mary and Martha, both my 
friends at Bethany, where I passed a week last 
year, just before the Passover.’’ 

‘IT am glad to hear that,’’ said John, ‘‘for this 
will be a closer bond of friendship between us. 
The next day we renewed our acquaintance, and 
after three days departed together homeward. 
Upon arriving at Bethany, he learned that his 
friend had gone to Cana, in Galilee, on a visit 
with his mother, to the house of one of her kins- 
folk, whose daughter is in a few weeks to be 
married. ’”’ 

Having now, my dear father, communicated to 
you all that John related to us, you will see what 


62 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


grounds there are to look upon the prophet of 
Jordan as a man sent from God, or to believe 
that he is the true Elias, whom Malachi hath 
foretold, and who, as the most learned of the 
Scribes say, must first come to proclaim the 
approach of the Prince of Peace, the Shiloh of 
Israel’s hopes. My emotions, my ideas, my 
Opinions, at present, are conflicting and full of 
indecision. On one hand, I am ready to become 
one of John of Jordan’s disciples, and be bap- 
tized of him, looking with faith unto Him who 
is to come after. On the other hand, I tremble 
lest all should be a delusion, for it does not seem 
possible that it is my lot to live in that blessed 
age when Messiah cometh, a period toward which 
all the patriarchs and prophets have looked, de- 
siring to see His day, but died without possess- 
ing the promise, beholding it only afar off. The 
infinite greatness of this privilege is all that 
causes me to doubt. Instruct me, dear father; 
open to me the treasures of your.wisdom. Thou 
art read in the Prophets. Doth the youthful 
prophet of the wilderness truly use their predic- 
tions in their application to Messias? Is it that 
the intellectual Lazarus truly drew the sad 
portraiture of His dark career on earth? How 
are the opposing prophecies to be reconciled in 
another manner than the young man of Bethany 
has unfolded them? Explain to me one other 
interpretation, dear father, how He can be both 
king and a prisoner! Lord of life, yet suffer 
death! With a kingdom boundless as the world, 
yet despised and contemned of men! 

The account brought by John has set Rabbi 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 63 


Amos to studying the Prophets, and indeed all 
men are looking into them with interest unknown 
before; for the multitudes that go away from the 
new prophet noise his predictions abroad, 
throughout all the land. May God be indeed 
about to bless his people, and remember ‘his 
inheritance! 
ADINA, 


64 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


LETTER VL 


My Dear Fatuer: Health and peace to thee, 
and all my friends honored and beloved in Alex- 
andria!—I have again seen the excellent Ben 
Israel, with whom, four months ago, I came from 
Egypt, to sojourn in Jerusalem. He not only 
delivered to me your letters, with the acceptable 
gifts you kindly sent by him, but also assured 
me of your welfare in all things. He 1s at pres- 
ent absent at Damascus, whither he went soon 
after his arrival here, in order to buy the cele- 
brated Syrian blades of that city, which he takes 
down to Egypt at great profit, with other mer- 
chandise. He assures me that he is gaining 
much wealth by his caravans of commerce, at 
which I rejoice, for he is an amiable and worthy 
man. His entreaties that I would return to 
Alexandria with him would nearly have overcome 
my resolutions of remaining here, but for the 
commands you have laid upon me to avail myself 
of the peculiar privileges which Jerusalem affords 
for improving the mind; and were it not Il am 
deeply interested in the issue of the great expec- 
tation of Israel. Your letter, dear father, com- 
mands me to banish this ‘‘novelty’’ from my 
mind, and continue humbly to worship Jehovah 
after the manner of our fathers. I trust this I 
shall ever do, my dear father; and did I discover 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 65 


in this prophet any disposition to bring in a 
new faith, opposed to the ancient faith of Abra- 
ham, I should tremble to entertain it for a 
moment. You say that this man must be ‘‘a 
false and base prophet,’’ or he would not herald 
a master so low and despised as he professes will 
be the Christ he bears witness to. ‘‘There have 
been many false Christs and false prophets, my 
child,’’ you add, ‘‘and Israel has run after them, 
as they nowrun after this John of Jordan, and 
the result has been that they have either per- 
ished in the wilderness or been cut to pieces, 
with their deceiver, by the jealousy of the Roman 
governors, who looked upon such assemblies as 
seditious. Hold fast, my child, to the religion 
of our fathers, and be not carried away, as I fear 
you are in danger of being, by this. wild preacher 
of repentance. ‘The kingdom of Messias is not a 
kingdom of repentance and of humiliation, but 
one of victory, of glory, and dominion. ‘Touch- 
ing those prophecies of humility and abasement 
which this prophet of Jordan applies to Messias, 
they have no application to our expected Shiloh 
. and Prince. They either apply to some lesser 
prophet, who will be the forerunner of the true 
Christ (for that he will have a forerunner the 
Scriptures speak too plainly for doubting), or, as 
some say and believe, especially do the Pharisees, 
there are to be two Messiahs, one who shall come 
in humiliation and suffering to the Gentiles, as 
an atonement for the expiation of their sins, and 
one to come to us in regal power, and in circum- 
stances of glory and splendor, such as no poten- 
tate hath ever manifested, and who shall make 


/ 


66 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


Jerusalem the metropolis of the globe, and the 
kings of the earth tributary at his feet. Such is 
our Messias, whom the Lord of Hosts send us 
speedily, to lift Judah from the dust of her 
humiliation! If the base person this prophet of 
the desert heralds be a Messias, he is one to the 
Gentiles only, whose great iniquities need the 
self-immolation and humiliation of one come 
from God, in atonement therefor; but he is nota 
Messiah to Israel, nor the mighty Prince who 
shall sit in David’s seat on the throne of Zion. 
Therefore, my child, you as a daughter of Israel 
have no interest in this novelty that cometh out 
of the wilderness, and after which half the land 
hath foolishly run mad. Wait, be patient, the 
day of Israel’s glory shall truly arise and shine, 
and all nations shall see it and rejoice. Think 
no more of what thy cousin hath told thee. 
When Messias cometh He will be heralded by a 
more glorious and eminent person than a young 
man of thirty, clothed in skins, and for food eat- 
ing locusts and wild honey, whose origin and 
authority no man knoweth. Believing that your 
good sense and sound judgment, my Adina, will 
at once lead you to adopt my views, I shall not 
urge them further, as if I seriously feared your 
defection from the house of your fathers, an 
event which would bring my gray hairs down 
with sorrow to the grave. It is my belief that 
this prophet preaches only himself, and, under 
the mysterious and deceitful notions of another 
to come after him, is but gathering an expectant 
multitude around him to wield them as instru- 
ments for his own ambitious ends; and by the 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 67 


time you write me again, I expect to learn from 

you that he openly proclaims himself the Christ, 

after all; or that he, with all who are led by him,’ 
will be destroyed by the swords of the Roman 

legions. ’”’ 

How can I write to you, my dear father, that 
which is now rushing to my pen, after such an 
expression of your sentiments as you have made 
in this extract from your letter? But I know 
you are wise, and will not evade truth, in what- 
ever form it may offer itself to you, and I there- 
fore, with confidence in your justice and wisdom, 
will faithfully make known to you the events 
relating to the prophet which have transpired, 
and may take place in Judea during my abode 
here. Hear me always with candor, and judge 
without partiality; for this is, without doubt, a 
day of wonderful revelations. I fancy that I can 
now see your brow darken, and that you say, 
*“enough of this. Are we to have more of this 
new prophet?’’ Yes, my dear father, more still, 
and more extraordinary circumstances [am about 
to relate than I have yet written; for the very 
priests of the Temple have become believers in 
the youthful Seer. 

You will remember how that John, Mary’s 
cousin, stated that many priests and others were 
offended at the plain preaching of the prophet 
whom they went out into the wilderness to see. 
When they returned to Jerusalem, and made 
known to the other members of the House of the 
Priests what had been spoken against them, by 
the application to them of the words of Esaias 
and Jeremias, and other Prophets, there arose at 


68 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


once a great outcry against him. Many of the 
Levites even forgot their duties in the Temple, in 
holding discourse with the Scribes and Pharisees, 
and others, in the streets, in the arches of the 
gates, and in the market-places, touching this 
new prophet, and his bold denunciations of them, 
being so much the more grieved at them because 
they were, alas, but too well merited by the 
looseness of their lives. At length Annas, who 
is High Priest with Caiaphas, sent two of the 
most learned men of the Temple, Levites of 
weight of character, to invite the prophet to 
Jerusalem; for Annas is a wise man, and not 
easily carried away by popular feeling; and, as 
Rabbi Amos hath told me, he is disposed to look 
upon the preaching of John, for such is his name, 
with a serious and reverential eye. The messen- 
gers returned after the fifth day, and made their 
report openly in the Court of the Temple, where 
the High Priests sat to receive them, expecting 
to behold the prophet in their company. At 
length the assembly being convened, the two 
learned and venerable Levites both rose up, and 
declared that they had delivered the message to 
John, the son of Zacharias, the prophet of Jor- 
dan, and that his answer was given with the 
reverence due to the station of the High Priest 
who had sent to him: 

‘‘Go and say to the noble High Priest,’’ said 
he, ‘‘that I am the voice of one crying in the 
wilderness, as it is written in the book of the 
words of Esaias the Prophet, who, foreseeing my 
day, saith, ‘The voice of one crying in the wilder- 
ness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 69 


paths straight.’ All flesh will soon behold the 
salvation of God. My errand is not to city nor 
temple, nor into any house of Israel will I enter. 
He who would hear my testimony to Him who is 
to come after me, let him seek me in the wilder- 
ness, whence only I am commanded to lift up my 
voice till Shiloh come.’’ 

When the priests heard this answer they were 
greatly enraged, and many fiercely cried one 
thing and many another; some that he should be 
sought out and stoned to death for defying the 
High Priest (which he did not do, as it was for 
him to obey God rather than man); others, that 
he should be accused to the Procurator, Pontius 
Pilate, Governor of Judea, as a seditious and 
dangerous person, and fomenter of insurrections. 
Caiaphas was of the latter opinion, and wrote, 
from his tribunal, an epistle to the Roman ruler, 
making accusation hereof against the prophet of 
the desert, and recommending him to secure his 
person, lest further mischief should come of it; 
adding that Tiberius Cesar, hearing of the mat- 
ter, would conceive it to be a movement of the 
whole Jewish nation, desirous of casting off the 
Roman rule, under a new chief; and thus bring 
down an army upon the land, utterly to destroy. 
it. But the milder Annas viewed the whole 
matter in a different light, and said: 

*““Men and brethren—let nothing be done 
hastily. If this man be a false prophet, he will 
soon perish with his lies, and we shall hear no 
more of him. If, peradventure, as it would 
appear, he is sent from God, let us not make 
haste to do hima mischief, lest, haply, we be 
found fighting against the Lord of Hosts.’’ 


70 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


This moderation found favor with but few, but 
of these few Rabbi Amos was one. But if the 
priests who thronged the outer court, in presence 
of the High Priest, were deeply moved at the 
report of the prophet’s answer, their excitement 
became well nigh uncontrollable when both 
Melchi and Heli, their messengers, rose up, wav- 
ing their hands for silence, and declared that 
after having listened to the prophet to whom they 
had been sent, they were convinced of the truth 
of his words, and of his divine commission, and 
been baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their 
sins. 

Only the sanctity of the Temple prevented the 
five hundred priests rushing upon them, and 
smiting them when they heard this. They were 
at once placed under arrest by order of the High 
Priest, Caiaphas, for acting in a manner unbe- 
coming a priest of the Most High God: ‘‘For,’’ 
said he, ‘‘this is to degrade the Temple to the 
feet of a wandering impostor, and is an open 
acknowledgment that virtue hath left the worship 
of Zion, and must be sought for in the deserts of 
Jordan. Which,’’ he called aloud, ‘‘which, men 
of Israel, is the greatest, the altar of the Lord, 
or the waters of Jordan ?—the Priest of the Most 
High, or he of the wilderness? Away with these 
recreant blasphemers, to be tried and adjudged 
according to our sacred laws.’’ ‘The people who 
had heard John preach hereupon were only pre- 
vented from rescuing the two priests by the 
presence of a guard of Roman soldiers, for which 
Caiaphas promptly sent. 

From this account, my dear father, you can 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. V1 


form some idea of the excitement which the 
preaching of this new prophet is producing 
among all classes. ‘The poorer sort of people are 
his advocates, and the rich and the rulers, the 
priests and great men of the nation, oppose him, 
save a few among the best and wisest. Of these 
few is Rabbi Amos, who is engaged all the time 
he is not on duty in the Temple, in searching the 
Scriptures, to see if these things are so; and at 
every prophecy he reads he is more and more 
convinced that the day of Messias is at hand, and 
that this prophet is, without doubt, he who was 
to be sent from God in the ‘‘spirit and power of 
Elias,’’ to prepare the way before him. Every 
evening there are assembled at our house from 
twelve to eighteen of the chief men of the Jews, 
who often pass half the night in warm discussions 
upon these great things; those among them who 
have heard John, being disposed to give him the 
high rank he claims, as forerunner of Shiloh. 
Among these is Stephen, a man whose father was 
High Priest, and who is himself a lawyer and 
student of nomeanrepute. He hasnot yet heard 
John the prophet, but he openly said last night 
that after the most careful examination of all the 
Prophets, he was firmly of the opinion that the 
day of their fulfillment was close at hand; and 
that, for his part, he was willing to hail the 
prophet of Jordan as the true herald of Mesgsias. 
Hereupon, two-thirds of the company said the 
same thing, but the others doubted and cautioned 
the rest not to be too rash; that it was time 
enough to believe in Messias when he himself 
should come in his own person. 


42 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


Such, my dear father, is the present condition 
of the mind of the people of Jerusalem. If the 
Prince of Glory should, indeed, suddenly appear, 
there could be scarcely more excitement, though 
it would be of a different nature. There is some- 
thing sublime to see a young man, who dwelleth 
alone in the wilderness, poor and unknown, thus 
moving the great heart of a nation; surely his 
power must be divinely derived. You ask me, 
and so is the question constantly put by the 
Scribes, and Pharisees, and priests, to the dis- 
ciples of John: ‘‘Does he perform miracles? 
Show me a miracle and I will believe in him; for 
this is the only test of a true prophet’s Divine 
commission.’’ No, dear father, he has performed 
no miracle, unless it, be one continuous miracle, 
whereby he keeps in the wilderness a multitude, 
daily enlarged, from the outpouring gates of 
every city in Judah, listening to his words, and 
bowing their heads to the sacred waters of his 
nenitential baptism. 

As next week Rabbi Amos does not serve in his 
course in the Temple, and as he will have some 
affairs that take him to Gilgal, where he has 
three fields now ripe for the sickle, he has yielded 
to the desire of his daughter Mary and myself to 
accompany him; for he does not conceal from us 
that he shall make it a point to visit and hear 
the prophet, as it will be but two hours’ travel 
from Gilgal to the place where he preaches. You 
will, I fear me, object to this journey. But if 
the worship of our fathers has nothing to fear 
from falsehood, it surely has naught to fear from 
truth; and in either case I, as a true daughter of 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. te 


Israel, have nothing to fear. If the prophet 
teach what is false, I shall remain true; andif he 
teach what is true, shall I not be the gainer? I 
hear you say this is but feeble and womanly 
argumentation. But as you have given me the 
credit of, more than once, declaring it to be your 
belief that I am old and wise enough to judge for 
myself in most matters, = beg you will suffer me 
to hear the prophet with my own ears, in order 
that I may decide whether I ought to give heed 
to his predictions, or reject them as the visions. 
of a dreamer. One thing is clear—if the Christ 
that John prophesies be the true Son of the High- 
est, and is in reality to make his appearance ere 
long, in humiliation and poverty, his rejection by 
the High Priests, and by the rich and powerful 
of Judah, is certain. May God, then, remove 
blindness from our eyes, that, if this be the very 
Messias indeed, Israel may recognize their king, 
and not do so fearful a thing in their pride as to 
reject him openly! In this case, who will stand 
between God and our ill-fated race? Therefore, 
my dear father, it behooves every man in Israel 
to examine this matter with a sober and humble 
mind, and move with caution in opposition to 
what may prove the dearest hopes of our people. 
When I shall have returned from the desert, 
whither we are to travel on litters and mules, I 
will write you all that I have heard. 

You will remember the young Roman Centu- 
rion, to whose courtesy I was indebted in rescuing 
me from the rudeness of the two Gentile soldiers. 
He has preserved, since then, acquaintance with - 
Rabbi Amos, who speaks of him with respect; 


74 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


and as he has of late expressed some interest in 
knowing what the studies are which occupy the 
rabbi so constantly when he calls to see him, 
which he has done frequently, a copy of the 
Prophets was placed in his hands; but as he 
professed he was not learned enough to read 
Hebrew, the good rabbi, who believed he saw in 
him a hopeful convert to the faith of Judah, 
called in Mary to read and interpret to him. 
But her knowledge of the Roman tongue did not 
prove sufficient, and at her request, the rabbi 
sent for me to come into the marble hall of the 
corridor, where they sat by the fountain, under 
the shade of the acacia, which Amos says you 
took with your own hands from Isaiah’s grave, 
and planted here, many vears ago, and which I 
therefore call ‘‘my father’s tree.’”’ 

‘“‘Come hither, Adina,’’ said my unele, in his 
benevolent tones: ‘‘here you behold a noble 
Roman youth whom you must be too generous to 
have forgotten.’’ I bowed, and scarcely lifted 
my eyelids from the tesselated fioor; for there 
was a fire in the glance of the handsome youth 
that they could not encounter. He said some 
words of salutation, but I only heard the voice, 
which fell upon my heart with a strange vibration 
like the effects of music. Surely these barbar- 
ians of Italia have the richest language of all 
men; compared with it, our Hebrew is harsh and 
strangely guttural. ‘‘The Roman Centurion,’’ 
continued Amos, ‘‘hath desired to know some- 
thing of the sacred books of our nation, of which 
he saith he hath heard much; and of the prophe- 
cies, from which he believes the famed Sibylline 
books were composed.”’ 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. G5 


“I have studied the sacred books of Etruria, 
of Gaul, and those of the Goths and the Druids, 
of Egypt, and of Persia, as well as of my own 
people,’’ said the Centurion modestly, ‘‘but in 
all these I find rites and ceremonies, doctrines 
and laws, that are unworthy to emanate from the 
supreme Jove of so vast a universe. We Romans, 
in the multiplicity of our Gods, in deifying 
everything, in reality deify nothing! Every- 
thing we call God, but we realize God nowhere. ”’ 

‘““Then thou hast well directed thy inquiries 
touching this book,’’ answered Amos, with 
warmth, and looking on the Roman with respect- 
ful compassion. ‘‘Here is to be found the true 
and only revelation of Jehovah to men. Here is 
developed a divine character, worthy of the 
Creator of the universe. Here are laid down 
laws and ceremonies, rites and doctrines, com- 
mands and precepts, that are worthy to emanate 
from the Father and God of all men. Thoushalt 
hear and judge forthyself. I am but imperfectly 
skilled in the Roman tongue, save for daily inter- 
course, but here is an Egyptian maiden, who can 
interpret for thee in the idiom of Grecia, or of 
Italia, and I will place the sacred scroll in her 
hands while I listen. Come, Adina, open and 
read the beginning of the Book of Moses.’’ 

I cbeyed, as I would have obeyed you, dear 
father, and, seated at the feet of Amos, I read 
and translated aloud into Greek, which the 
Roman youth had said was even more familiar to 
him than his native tongue (as it is to all edu- 
‘cated persons in the world), the first five hundred 
lines. These, as you know, give an account of 


76 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


the creation of the world, and of man, of his 
defection, and his expulsion from paradise; of 
the promise of Messias to restore what he had 
lost; of the curse denounced upon the creation, 
and the slaying of the Patriarch Abel, with the 
population of the earth, its wickedness, and 
destruction by the flood. 

To this the youthful warrior listened with the 
profoundest respect and attention; and when he 
had thanked me, and asked permission to come 
and be further taught from pages which he 
said seemed, indeed, to be written with the 
finger of the Supreme Lord of the universe, he 
asked if the Messias had yet come who was to 
restore all things? and if not, when was he to be 
looked for? This inquiry led to a conversation 
upon the preaching of John in the wilderness, 
and his predictions of the near advent of Shiloh. 
Rabbi Amos, seeing that he became deeply inter- 
ested in the subject, made me turn to the par- 
ticular prophecies of Daniel, Esaias, David, and 
others, and read them to him: both those which 
described, in golden words, the glory and domin- 
ion of his power, and those which represented 
him as despised and rejected. After I had read 
all which the rabbi directed me to read, the 
young man remained some time very thoughtful. 
At length he said, with animation: ‘‘I can now 
comprehend why men run into the wilderness. 
I should like to hear this prophet.’”’ 

When Amos told him that he contemplated 
journeying to Gilgal the next week, and intended 
to visit the desert to hear him, he at once asked 
permission to be of his company; but when I 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. vir § 


remarked that Mary and I were also to go, his 
dark eyes beamed with pleasure, and he immedi- 
ately said: 

‘*T will accompany you with a squadron of 
horse, as the roads are not safe, for no longer 
than yesterday we received a rumor that the cele- 
brated robber chief, Barabbas, at the head of a 
large band, has made his appearance again on 
the hills, between Ephraim and Jericho, and had 
robbed not only two caravans, but many of those 
who were traveling to hear this prophet. I will 
make an expedition against him, after seeing you 
safely in Jericho.’’ 

When we heard of this robber, we were not a 
littie disposed to decline our journey; but Rabbi 
Amos thanked him, and said he would gladly 
accept his escort, ‘‘inasmuch,’’ he added, smil- 
ing, ‘‘as I know you Roman knights here in gar- 
rison have but little to employ your time, and 
would esteem it a privilege to have an excursion 
of this kind. Moreover, you say you must go 
against this bandit; so we do not so much draw 
on your courtesy as take shelter under your 
auty.”’ 

It is therefore decided, dear father, that we 
leave early next week for Jericho and Gilgal, and 
go also into the wilderness to see and hear the 
prophet. On my return, I shall not fail to write 
you without delay. Till then withhold your 
judgment, and have confidence in mine. With 
holy aspirations for the coming of the kingdom 
of David, and the restoration of his throne in 
Zion, I remain with filial love, your daughter, 

ADINA. 


78 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


(John, cousin to Mary, who I erroneously told 
you in my second letter was the son of the rich 
matron whose husband was slain by the Romans, 
and is only her nephew, as, doubtless, you are 
aware, has gone to the Lake of Galilee, where his 
father and brother have ships and many serv- 
ants engaged in fishing, in order to look after 
their welfare. He may meet us at Gilgal.) 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 49 


LETTER VIL. 


My Dear Fatuer: My trembling fingers scarcely 
hold the light reed with which I am about to 
write you concerning the extraordinary things I 
have seen and heard; but they trembled only 
with joy. Oh, my father, my dear, dear father, 
Messias has come! I have seenHim! I have 
heard His voice! He hastruly come! Oh, joy 
joy! My eyes have beheld Him of whom Moses 
and the Prophets did write! But let me not 
anticipate. In order that you may believe as I 
believe, though you have seen Him not, I will 
give to you an account of those events which have 
happened since my last letter was sent to you. I 
will try to write free from emotion, and keep my 
bounding heart still, and my hand calm, while I 
set in order all that has taken place, that your 
understanding may judge of them with that 
candor and wisdom which makes men see in you 
the wisest Israelite in the land of Egypt. 

You will recollect that in my hst last epistle, 
which went by the Cairo caravan, I mentioned 
that Rabbi Amos, taking advantage of the recess 
in his duties at the Temple, the course of the 
venerable Elihud being now waiting upon the 
altar, made up his mind to pay his annual visit 
to the wheat fields which he has in charge near 
Jericho, and which, as you know, are not his own 


80 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


lands, but are in trust to him for the heirs of 
Manasseh, of the tribe of Benjamin, who was 
slain in trying to rescue Jericho from the Romans. 
Rabbi Amos, also, felt no little curiosity to hear 
John of Jordan, as he is called, whose fame has 
spread far and wide. At the request of Mary and 
myself, he consented that we should accompany 
him. John, the young man who is betrothed to 
my cousin, having gone to the sea of Galilee to 
see about certain ships which were there in 
charge of his brother James and his father, was 
to meet us at Gilgal, and accompany us to Jor- 
dan; for he thinks and speaks of nothing now 
but the prophet of the wilderness, from whom he 
feels that he suffers great loss to be absent even 
for a day. 

The road from Jerusalem to Jericho had be- 
come recently unsafe, on account of the boldness 
of an insurrectionary chief called Barabbas, who 
a year ago made insurrection against the Romans, 
but was defeated, and his band dispersed into 
the mountains south of the sea of Sodom; but at 
last, driven to famine, he has taken to robbing 
caravans; and since the number of travelers has 
increased so much between Jerusalem and Jordan 
to hear John and be baptized of him, he. has 
fallen upon large parties of them, and taken from 
them all their goodsandmoney. On this account 
Rabbi Amos accepted the courteous offer of the 
escort of the young Centurion, who had been 
ordered by the Procurator, Pontius Pilate, to 
keep the road open between Jerusalem and Jeri- 
cho; for even the Roman couriers were stopped 
by this fearless robber and slain by him. The 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. S1 


pride of Rabbi Amos shrank from this dependence 
upon a Roman arm, in making a peaceful journey 
through his own land; but there is, alas! dear 
father, no one now among the seed of Abraham 
to assert their rights. We can only bow our 
heads to the yoke the Lord God has placed upon 
our necks. 

It was faint dawn when we rose from our 
couches to prepare for the journey. The mules 
upon which we were to ride were brought into 
the court by the two swarthy Gibeonite serfs, 
whom Rabbi Amos holds in his service, and 
caparisoned with rich saddles covered with Per- 
sian saddle-cloths embroidered with gold. The 
two pack mules were also made ready, on one of 
which was the traveling equipage of my cousin 
Mary and myself, which Rabbi Amos smilingly 
said took up more space than the goods and 
traveling wares of a Damascus merchant. At 
sunrise, after we had kneeled upon the house-top 
in view of the Temple, and sent up our prayers 
with its sacrifices and clouds of ascending incense, 
we descended to the courtyard to mount for the 
road. There was a stout mule for good Rabbi 
Amos, though the Centurion sent him a hand- 
some Persian horse to ride; but my uncle said 
that he had never trusted himself on so uncertain 
an animal as a horse in his youth, and he 
thought he should scarcely adventure such a feat 
in his old age; so he preferred his mule. 

Having got ourselves seated upon our cush- 
ioned saddles, and our veils ready to draw over 
our faces, we expected each moment the arrival 
of the Centurion and his cohort of horse; but a 


82 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


Numidian slave came running, and bowing to the 
ground before Rabbi Amos, said that the Cen- 
turion would meet us at the corner of the two 
ways, beyond the walls, at Absalom’s Pillar. 
Whereupon we all mounted, and took our way 
toward the East Gate. We were five persons in 
all, Rabbi Amos, my cousin Mary and myself, 
and the two Gibeonites, both of whom were 
young: men, whose fathers for many centuries 
had been servants in the family of Amos, even 
from the time of Joshua, when this people de- 
ceived him by their craftiness, and were doomed 
to perpetual servitude. Iam much struck with 
the appearance of this singular race of men. 
They have very dark faces, eagle-beaked noses, 
flashing black eyes, and slender, lithe forms. 
They look cunning and treacherous, but seem to 
be cowardly, and easily controlled by firmness. 
They are incapable of any attachments, and 
gratitude seems to be thrown away upon them. 
I heard a singular tradition about them from one 
of the Levites who often visits Rabbi Amos, 
which is that they are descended from the serv- 
ants of Noah, which were saved with him in the 
ark, but who, as being of an inferior rank, were 
not included in the record of Noah’sfamily. But 
doubtless you have heard the same tradition. 
The morning was bright and cheerful, with 
the golden sun pouring its light over temple and 
tower, castle and roof, wall and rampart, hill and 
grove, valley and brook, one and all of which 
were lighted up with the glory of his morning 
beams. As we turned the street leading to the 
Sheep Gate, we passed the house of Caiaphas, 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 83 


the High Priest, whom I saw standing upon the 
marble porch of his superb palace. He was not 
arrayed in his sumptuous robes, with the breast- 
plate of dazzling stones and kingly cap, as I had 
seen him in the Temple; but was dressed in'a 
flowing black robe, over which was thrown a 
searf of white linen; and upon his snow-white 
locks he wore a scarlet hood, a dress common te 
all the priests, so that if I had not recognized 
him by his tall and commanding form and flow- 
ing white hair and piercing eye, as he surveyed 
us, I should not have known that it was the High 
Priest. He spoke to Rabbi Amos, who did him 
reverence, and lowly did I bend my own head 
before the majesty of the representative of God 
on earth. 

A little further on we met a party coming from 
the country beyond Kedron with large cages 
upon their mules, laden with turtle doves and 
young pigeons, which they were carrying to the 
Temple, to be sold therefor sacrifices. My heart 
pitied the innocent things, whose blue, pretty 
heads were thrust by the dozen through the 
rough bars of their prison houses, as they cast 
their soft eyes up at me, as if asking me to 
deliver them from their bondage. And when I 
refiected that they were to offer up their innocent 
lives for the sins of the men and women of Israel, 
my cheek burned with the blush of shame, that 
we were so guilty before the Lord God that the 
innocent must die for us. As Mary was riding 
behind me, in order to let the laden mules pass 
with their immense cages, one of the turtle- 
doves, affrighted by the noise of the streets, 


84 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


extricated itself from between the bars, and, 
spreading its wings, flew into the air, and then 
taking its flight for the country, soared far above 
the city walls, and disappeared in the distance. 
I felt rejoiced at the innocent bird’s escape, and 
sent my good wishes for its safe return to its 
lodge in the wilderness. Just before we reached 
the Sheep Gate by which we were to gain the 
Jericho road, we met a poor blind man leading a 
lamb, or rather being led by atame lamb. He 
also had two pigeons in his bosom. He was 
asked by Rabbi Amos, who knew him, whither he 
was going. He answered that he was going to 
the Temple to sacrific them. ‘‘Nay,’’ said Amos, 
with surprise, ‘‘thou wilt not sacrifice thy lamb, 
Bartimeus!’’ 

‘‘T have promised them to God, Rabbi Amos, 
and I may not break my promise without sin.’’ 

‘*But thy lamb leadeth thee everywhere. It is 
eves to thee. Thou canst not do without it.”’ 

‘‘God will provide me another lamb,’’ he an- 
swered, his face beaming with hope. 

‘But thy doves? Thou earnest by them many 
a mite in a day, they are so well taught in cun- 
ning and pleasant tricks to please children. If 
thou must sacrifice according to thy vow, spare 
these so needful to thee, and here is money to 
buy doves and another lamb,’’ answered my 
benevolent uncle. 

‘‘Hear what I have to say,’’ answered Barti- 
meus. ‘‘My father became sick, and was likely 
to die, and I vowed to God that if he would heal 
the old man, my father, I would sacrifice unto 
him one of my doves. The next day my mother, 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 85 


who has nourished my childhood, and loved me, 
though I was born blind, with all her heart, was 
also taken sick. I then vowed my other pigeon. 
The same night my little daughter, my little 
blind daughter, whose face I never saw, and who 
never saw her father’s face, was sick nigh unto 
death. Then it was that I vowed all that re- 
mained to me, even the lamb of my bosom, whom 
Lloved next to my child! My father, my mother, 
my child, are restored, and in my joy Iam on 
my way to the Temple to offer these gifts of God 
to him. It will be hard, sir, but shall I not 
perform my vow? It will be hard to part with 
them, I shall miss them so much; but God will 
not let blind Bartimeus suffer, since He will see 
that he offereth, in offering his two little doves 
and his lamb, all that he hath.’’ 

With these words he moved on, the lamb obey- 
ing the string which he held, softly moving on 
before; while I could see the sightless eyes of 
the righteous son and father trickle tears, as he 
kissed, and kissed again, the doves that lay in 
his bosom. This little occurrence made me sad; 
yet I honored the resolute piety of this poor 
man, whose eyes, though they saw not men, 
seemed to see God and feel his presence. There 
is still humble piety in the land, my dear father, 
and finding it not among the proud and splendid 
priests, we must look for it in the hearts of the 
poor and humble, like Bartimeus. 

Upon reaching the Sheep Gate, we were not 
detained by the Roman captain, who kept others, 
examining their passports, and taking gate- 
money from those who were without them; for 


86 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


though foot passengers may pass in and out free, 
yet from those who ride horses or mules is 
exacted money, unless they have passes signed 
by the Procurator. But the captain of the gate 
no sooner saw us than he, with great civility, 
made us pass through the gate in advance of 
others who were ready to go through, saying 
that the young Centurion, whose name, I think, 
Ihave not told you is Admilius, had given him 
orders not to detain us. The stern, iron-cased 
Roman soldiers that stood about the gate struck 
me as having just the aspect and forms of men 
who could conquer the world. When I reflected 
that there was not a city on the earth, at whose 
gates did not stand just such men as these, 
armed, and clad, and bearded like them, I could 
not but respect the universal power of the Roman 
empire, while I feared it. 

Once outside of the gates, the air blew fresh 
from the hills of olives, laden with fragrance. 
After being so long confined within the walls and 
narrow streets, it seemed to me that I had just 
broken out of my cage, like the pretty blue- 
headed turtle dove, and I felt like winging my 
way too to the free deserts, if wings of a dove so 
ardently longed for by King Dayid, could only 
have been given me. On our right, not far from 
the gate, Rabbi Amos pointed out to me the pool 
of Bethesda, and turning my eyes toward it, I 
beheld a most touching spectacle. All the five 
porches were filled with sick and impotent folk, 
the lame, halt, blind, and withered, waiting, as 
my uncle told us, for the moving of the waters; 
for, at certain seasons, he said that God sends an 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 8? 


angel down into the pool to trouble the water, 
when whosoever steps in first is made wnhole of 
whatsoever disease he may have. I could not 
but stop my mule to regard so remarkable a sight 
as this congregation of miserable people, of 
whom there must have been no less than four 
hundred; some leaning, pale and haggard, 
against the columns, some creeping about in 
helplessness, like brutes trying to get nighor the 
pool from which the stronger thrust them back; 
some reclining patiently upon their beds, in 
humble waiting for God’s time; and othors being 
borne thither on tho shoulders of men. Sud- 
denly, as I was about to ride on, and shut out 
this painful sight, one of the most extraordinary 
scenes that human eyes could witness took place. 
The surtacc of the pool, which was hitherto per- 
fectly placid, all at once became agitated, as if it 
were boiling, and began to swell, rush, or rather 
swing from sido to side in a remarkable manner. 
No sooner was this seen than there arose from 
the throng of wretched invalids who crowded its 
steps aecry of four hundred voices all at once, 
shritks of joy, shouts of wonder, words of 
amazed exclamation, while s simultaneous move- 
ment took place of the whole mass of human 
bodies, which became as wildly tossed to and fro 
as were the waters. Those nearest plunged madly 
in, while those behind rushed down, some wildly 
shrieking in their agonizing haste, and some 
uttering the most fearful curses, as they found 
their way obstructed by the impenetrable masseg 
before them. The most weak and impotent being 
most eager, and being furthest off, made super 


88 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


human exertions to gain the pool, howling, and 
climbing with hands and feet, over the backs of 
others, to be hurled to the ground and trampled 
upon by others who were behind them. Some 
strong men, who tried to open the way for one 
they were carrying, drew their knives, and pro- 
ceeded to cut their way through the haggard and 
mouthing wretches who crowded the way, which 
violence being seen by the Romans from the gate, 
they went down, some score of them, with drawn 
swords, to quell the tumult; for the whole pool 
was in an uproar. Unable to endure the dread- 
ful scene, we rode rapidly on, but I afterward 
heard that before quiet was restored several men 
were slain, and that five of those who had got 
into the pool were drowned beneath the feet of 
those who recklessly leaped in over the heads of 
others upon them. 

‘‘TIg it possible,’’? I asked Rabbi Amos, after 
we had reached the borders of Kedron, ‘‘that it 
is the act of an angel that can produce all this 
confusion and outbreak of the worst of human 
passions ?’’ 

‘*There is no doubt that the troubling of the 
waters is a miracle,’’ he answered. ‘‘The act of 
the angel is good. His touch gives a healing 
power that cures diseases; and ghall his benevo- 
lence be answerable for these dreadful and dis- 
gusting consequences which we have just wit- 
nessed ?’’ | 

I was silent; but I sighed for the wickedness 
of man, that can make even God’s gifts curses in 
the reception of them. 

We now turned a little to the right, for as the 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. &9 


bridge by which the road of Jericho is usually 
gained was being solidly rebuilt by the Romans, 
we had to follow the brookside till we came near 
Absalom’s Pillar, at the sight of which, the 
whole history of that misguided young prince 
came before me. How wonderful that the glori- 
ous head of golden hair, of which he was vain, 
and of which the poets of that day speak more 
than once, should have been the instrument of 
his death! There were ancient oak trees in 
sight, which the rabbi said were old enough to 
be a part of the forest through which he rode so 
fatally, and doubtless were. He showed me the 
pit into which the ten young men who slew 
Absalom cast him, heaping great stones upon 
him. It is close beside the pillar. This prince 
must have been as brave as he was beautiful and. 
disobedient, that when hanging by his hair in 
the oak, and incapable of doing them harm, it 
should require ‘‘ten young men to compass him 
and smite him.’’ How interesting to me is 
every spot about Jerusalem! I seem to live in 
the ancient days, when I see the scenes where 
have been enacted thc great events which consti- 
~ tute the history and glory of our nation. 

We had hardly reached the place where the 
two roads meet, when we heard to the west the 
sound of the galloping of a large body of horse, 
and the next moment the young Roman Centurion 
came in sight, by the road from the Horse Gate, 
riding at the head of a troop of horse, whose 
martial appearance, with the ringing of their 
armor, and the melody of their bugles, made my 
blood leap; and Iam sure if I could have seen 


90 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


my eyes, I should have discovered in them a 
martial fire. Admilius looked like a prince, and 
his burnished armor shone in the sun like armor 
of fire. At his side rode a youth who bore the 
eagle of his band; but the Centurion himself 
carried in his hand only the badge of his rank, 
which was a vine rod bound with rings of gold. 
He saluted us with that courtesy which distin- 
guishes his every motion, and then dividing his 
troop into two bodies, half of whom trotting on 
ahead, led the van, and the other half, falling 
behind, served as arear guard. He then gave 
the word to move forward. The Centurion him- 
self rode either by the side of Rabbi Amos, or 
near our bridles, but he did not so far occupy 
himself with us as to forget his duty as captain, 
which he fulfilled with the utmost vigilance, 
especially after we passed the village, and entered 
upon the desert space that lies beyond Bethany. 

Farewell, dear father, till my next, when I will 
resume my narrative of the events which have 
taken place since I left Jerusalem. The God of 
our father Abraham be your defense and shield. 
Your affectionate daughter, 

ADINA. 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 91 


LETTER VIII. 


My Dear Fatuer: The very kind manner in 
which you have received my communications re- 
specting the extraordinary prophet now drawing 
all Judea after him into the wilderness, and the 
assurance that I can obtain from ‘your wisdom, 
jearning and piety, a solution of all difficulties, 
and a true guide to the truth, prompt mo to con- 
tinue freely, and in detail, the relation of events 
that have passed under my expericnee. I shall, 
in my accounts of tho marvelous occurrences that 
I have witnessed, and may yet witness, not only 
convey to you the impressions n2ao upon my 
own mind, but upon tho minds oi many others 
of the wise and learned and great, who also 
have heard and seen these things. Thus you 
will have the weight of many testimonies, which 
you will doubtless hold in respect in proportion 
to the dignity, and wisdom, and rank of the 
persons. 

My last letter ended with an account of the 
Roman escort, under the authority of the young 
Roman Centurion, who, as I have before written 
to you, with so much courtesy proffered its pro- 
tection to our little party. ‘The day was yet 
early, the sun not having got more than an hour 
and a half high above the Arabian hills, and the 
air was of that buoyant elasticity so agreeable 


92 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


to breathe, and which strikes me as one of the 
peculiar blessings of this holy land of our fathers. 
In Egypt there is a want of life in the torrid air 
at this season that we do not here experience; 
and as I rode along I felt as if I would gladly 
mount the Arabian of the desert, and fly across 
the sandy seas of Edom with the fleetness which 
amazes me whenever I see the children of the 
desert ride; for a band of thirty came near us 
from a gorge as we approached Bethany, and 
after watching us a few moments, scoured away 
into the recesses of the hills, like the wind, as a 
detachment of a score of our Roman escort was 
ordered to gallop toward them. Upon this 
Rabbi Amos said that we were fortunate in hay- 
ing such strong protection, for this party of the 
children of Esau would otherwise have attacked 
and plundered us, as they are wont to do every 
party of Israelites they fall in with; and the 
recent concourse of so many people to Jordan, 
has drawn them boldly near Jerusalem, says the 
Roman Centurion, in great numbers, to lay in 
wait for, and rob them. Thus, the hostility 
which began between the patriarch Jacob and 
the patriarch lisau, has never yet been healed, 
but rankles in thc bosoms of thoir descendants 
even to this day; and still, ‘‘Esau hateth Jacob, 
because of the blessing wherewith his father 
blessed him.’’ The Romans greatly admired the 
horsemanship of these children of Esau, and upon 
their heavy horses, armed with their iron armor, 
it would havo been vain to have followed them to 
their retreats. 

We soon afterward reached Bethany, from 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 93 


which we had a gorgeous view of the Holy City 
of God, with its lofty Temple glittering in the 
sunbeams, like a mountain of architectural 
silver. The tower of Antonia darkly contrasted 
with its splendor, and the citadel of David 
frowned over the walls with a warlike majesty 
that deeply impressed me. Ah, how could I gaze 
upon the scene, my dear father, without emo- 
tions of awe, wonder, adoration, and gratitude! 
I drew rein, and entreated Rabbi Amos to delay 
a few moments while I surveyed Jerusalem, 
which, familiar as it might be to him, and to all 
the rest of our cavalcade, was new to me; but he 
was too far ahead to hear me, for I had already 
been lingering for some seconds; and the Cen- 
turion, riding up to my side, stopped respect- 
fully with a portion of his command, and said he 
would await my leisure. Icould not but thank 
him for his civility, and then turning to the city, 
I was soon lost to all else but the awful contem- 
plation of it. lTrresistibly, as I gazed, I went 
back, in memory, to the time when our father 
Abraham was met before its gates by Melchisedek, 
its king, who received regal homage from him. 
I saw again David coming forth from its lofty 
portals at the head of armies to conquer the 
surrounding nations. I beheld the splendid 
trains of oriental monarchs, of the kings of the 
South, and the kings of the North, and of Sheba, 
the queen of happy Arabia, winding through its 
pleasant valley, and entering in to prostrate them- 
selves before Solomon, the prince of wisdom, 
glory, and power, the fame of whose wisdom and 
greatness filled the whole earth. Alas! the 


94 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


whole earth is now filled with the story of the 
shame and bondage of Israel! But the day 
cometh, dear father, when she shall lift up her 
face from the dust, and put on regal garments, 
and God shall place a crown upon her head, and 
her glory and dominion shall be without end. 
This certainty quenched the tears that burst into 
my eyes as I contrasted the present with the 
past. In memory, as I continued to gaze, I saw 
the armies of the Assyrians, and the armies of 
the Chaldeans, the armies of Egypt, and of Per- 
gia, of Cyrus, and of Greece, all, each in its turn, 
encompassing the Holy City, and conquering it 
even though God dwelt therein in the mysterious 
fire of the Shechinah. But the presence of 
Jehovah in a city or in a heart will not save it 
from its foes if the city or the heart be not with 
God; and we know from the Prophets that the 
hearts of our fathers were far from God; and 
therefore were they delivered up to their enemies 
to be scourged. Oh, my dear father, that oux 
people of to-day would learn the fearful lesson 
that the past teacheth them! 

‘*You should see Rome,’’ said the Centurion, 
who had watched my emotion evidently with sur: 
prise. ‘‘It is a city of grandeur unequaled. Ii 
covers six times more space than this city, and it 
contains three hundred and sixty-five temples, 
while Jerusalem contains but one!”’ 

‘‘There is no God but one,’’ I answered im- 
pressively. 

‘We believe that there is one God, who is the 
author of a great multitude of lesser gods, ana 
to each we erect a temple.’’ 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 95 


Upon this, touched with pity that one so 
noble in mind and person should be so ignorant 
of the truth, I began to show him from the 
Prophets that God was One, and that all things 
were made by Him. But he, plucking a blossom 
from a tree which was within reach, said: 

**It is beneath the dignity of the Father of the 
gods, the great Jove, to descerd to make a flower 
like this; or shape a crystal; or color the ruby; 
or create that golden-dyed humming-bird which 
flutters among those fragant blossoms. He made 
the sun and moon and stars and earth, but left 
the lesser works to inferior doitios. Talk to me 
of thy One God, and prove to mo, maiden, that 
He made all things, and is One, and thy God 
shall be my God.’’ ; 

It was then no time for me to endeavor to 
combat this error, but I havo reserved to myself 
the first convenient opportunity to endeavor to 
instruct him in the truth as it is revealed from 
heaven to our favored people. He has already 
manifested an inquiring spirit into our holy faith, 
and Rabbi Amos has taught him many things 
from the books of Moses, but sufficient only to 
lead him to desire to know more; but not to 
eradicate from his heart his pagan superstitions. 
The gentleness of his nature, his sound judg- 
ment, the frankness of his character, the ingenu- 
ous temper of the whole man, inspire me with 
great confidence that he will be ultimately con- 
vinced of hig errors, and embrace the faith of 
Israel. 

We now rode forward through the principal 
street of Bethany, and soon came to the house of 


96 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


your former friend, Rabbi Abel, who died many 
years ago at Alexandria, when he went there with 
merchandise, and after the welfare of whose chil- 
dren you desired me to make inquiries. They 
are now, aS you are aware, grown to the fu} 
estate of manhood and womanhood, and still 
dwell at Bethany. Being friends of my cousin 
Mary, it was decided that we should stop there 
to rest half an hour before proceeding on our 
way. It was a plain and humble dwelling, before 
which Rabbi Amos assisted me to alight; but 
there was an air of sweet domestic repose about 
it that at once came home to my heart, and made 
me love the place even before I had seen the 
inmates, who had come out to receive, and gone 
in with my cousin; but on hearing of my arrival 
there came out a fair young girl of twenty-two, 
with the most amiable expression of affectionate 
welcome; and, approaching me with mingled 

respect and love, she embraced me, while Rabbi ~ 
Amos pronounced our names to each other. I 
felt immediately as if I were in a sister’s arms, 
and that I should love her always. Next came 
forth a young man of about thirty years of age, 
with a countenance of an exceedingly interesting 
expression, full of intellect and good will. He 
was pale and habitualiy thoughtful, but a fine 
friendly light beamed in his dark, handsome 
eyes as he extended his hand to welcome me. 
You have already had a full description of him 
and of his character in one of my former letters, 
and need not be told that it was the son of your 
friend. At the threshold Martha, the eldest 
sister, met me, but with more ceremony, and 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 9% 


made an apology for receiving into so lowly a 
dwelling the rich heiress of Alexandria, as she 
termed me; but I embraced her so affectionately, 
that this feeling passed away instantly. I was 
much struck with this wholefamily. Each mem- 
ber of it possessed attractions of a peculiar kind; 
and in all three I seemed to have found two sis- 
ters and a brother. Martha busied herself at 
once to prepare refreshments for us, and soon set 
before us afrugal but agreeable repast, more than 
we desired; for we all insisted that we needed 
nothing, as we had not been long in the saddle. 
Mary, in the meanwhile, and Lazarus, sat on 
either side of me, and asked me many questions 
about Alexandria, and particularly if I had ever 
seen their father’s tomb. And when I told them 
that at my father’s request I had kept the flowers 
fresh about it, they both pressed my hands and 
thanked me so gratefully that tears in my own 
eyes answered to the tears in theirs. 

How shall I describe to you the loveliness of 
the person of Mary, and yet not so much the per- 
fection of feature as the soul which animates 
them, and lends them a charm that I cannot ade- 
quately convey to you? Her eyes are of that 
remarkable color so seldom seen among our peo- 
ple, and when it is, is of a richer and more ceru- 
lean tone than is found in the azure-eyed nativey 
of the north. They are as blue as the skies of 
Judea, and yet possess all the starry, torrid 
splendor of the eyes of the Hebrew maids. Her 
hair, which is a soit, golden brown, is worn 
knotted in wavy masses about her superbly 
molded neck. Her air is serene and confiding, 


9§ PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


and she has so little art that she lets you read all 
the secrets of her pure soulin the summer heaven 
of the sweet eyes I have spoken of.. There is an 
indescribable pensiveness about her that is most 
touching, and at the same time pleasing. 
Martha, the oldest, is of a more lively disposi- 
tion, yet more commanding in her aspect, being 
taller, and almost queenly. Her eyes and hair 
are jet black; theformer mild, and beaming with 
intelligence, like those of her brother Lazarus, 
whom she resembles. She has a winning voice 
and a manner that leads you to feel strong con- 
fidence in her friendship. She seemed to take 
the whole management of our entertainment upon 
herself, which the quieter Mary left to her, as if 
a matter of course, preferring rather to talk with 
me about the land of Egypt, where our fathers 
were so long in bondage, and about which all our 
young people in Judea have such awful ideas. 
Mary asked me if Iwas not afraid to dwell there? 
if I ever saw the tomb of the Pharaohs? and if 
the seventy pyramids of the Nilus were not the 
work of our forefathers? Lazarus conversed 
chiefly with Rabbi Amos, who questioned him 
with much interest about the prophet John of 
the wilderness, to whom, you will remember, I . 
wrote you Lazarus had paid a visit. After our 
repast, Martha showed me three beautiful bands 
of embroidery, which she was working for the 
new veil of the Temple to be put up next year; 
for the sisters live by working needlework for 
the Temple, and Lazarus makes copies of the 
Law and Psalms for the priests. He showed me 
his copying table, and the rolls upon it, some 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 99 


partly done, some quite complete. He also 
showed mea copy of the book of Isaiah, which 
he had just finished, and which had occupied him 
one hundred and seven days. It was exquisitely 
executed. Another incomplete copy was thrown 
aside, and was destined to be burned, because he 
had made a mistake in forming one letter; for if 
an iota be added too much, the work is con- 
demned and burned, so strict are the priests that 
perfect and immaculate copies of the Law, and 
none others, shall exist. Mary also showed me 
a beautifully-embroidered foot tablet, which the 
wife of Pilate, when she was last from Cesarea, 
ordered for herself. 

*‘T shall not receive coin for it,’’ said Mary, 
**but present it to her: forshe has ever been very 
kind to us; and when, last year, she and the 
Procurator Pilate, her lord, came up from Cesarea 
to Jerusalem, about the time of the Passover, she 
sent her own household physician to heal Laza- 
rus, who was taken sick from overmuch confine- 
ment to his tasks. She knew us only by inquir- 
ing who it was who worked the embroidering of 
the altar mantles, which she had much admired.’”’ 

Seeing upon the table a richly-worked book- 
cover of silk and velvet, with the letters ‘‘I. N.’’ 
embroidered in olive leaves upon it, I asked her if 
that, it being so elegant, was not for the High 
Priest? 

**No,’’ answered Martha, with brightening 
eyes, speaking before her sister could reply, ‘‘that 
is for our friend, and the friend and brother of 
Lazarus.’ 

**What is his name?’’ I asked. 


£00 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


‘*Jesus, of Nazareth.’”’ 

‘‘T have heard John speak of him,’’ said my 
cousin Mary, with animation, and appealing to 
me, reminded me how John had repeated what 
Lazarus had spoken to him of his friend from 
Nazareth, which I have written to you. ‘“‘E 
should feel happy,’’ added my cousin, ‘‘to know 
him also. ’’ 

‘*And from what I have heard of him,”’’ said I, 
‘*it would be indeed a pleasure to see him.’”’ 

The two sisters listened to us with pleasure, 
and Martha said: 

‘“If you had been here a few days ago, you 
would have seen him. He left us, after being 
with us three weeks, to go to Nazareth again. 
But he requested to meet Lazarus at Bethabara, 
on the third day from this, for some important 
reason; and my brother will go, for he loves him 
so that he would cross the seas to meet him.”’ 

‘‘Then,’’ said Rabbi Amos to Lazarus, ‘‘if you 
are to journey so soon toward Jordan to meet 
your friend, you had best join our company, and 
share our escort.’’ To this Lazarus, after some 
consultation with his sisters, consented. 

What a happy family, thought I, is this! The 
sisters happy in each other’s love, the brother 
happy in theirs, all three united as one in the 
purest affection, and yet a fourth is added to the 
circie, whose love for the three is equal to theirs 
for him! Humble in station, poor, and depend- 
ent upon the labor of their hands for their daily 
bread, yet their household is one that kings 
might envy, and which no gold nor jewels could 
purchase. 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 101 


I left this blessed abode of fraternal friendship 
with regret, and felt that I should be perfectly 
happy if I could be admitted as a fifth link in the 
wreath of their mutual love. Even the Roman 
Centurion had been struck with the air of peace- 
ful repose reigning there, and spoke of it to me 
as we rode away. 

About noon we stopped ata caravansary, half 
the way to Jericho from Bethany. Here we over- 
took a friend of Rabbi Amos, the venerable and 
learned scholar and lawyer, Gamaliel. He was, 
he confessed, also riding to Jordan, to have an 
interview with the prophet, being persuaded to 
seek it on account of an extraordinary dream he 
had, which he repeated to his friend Rabbi 
Amos, but not in our hearing; but the effect upon 
my uncle excited a good deai of my curiosity to 
know what it was, but he has been studiously silent 
upon the subject. Accompanying the lawyer, 
Gamaliel, was a young man who was his disciple, 
and who went with him as a companion by the 
way. His name is Saul; and I noticed him par- 
ticularly, because I overheard the venerable 
lawyer say that he was the most remarkable 
young man who had ever sat at his feet to learn 
the mysteries of the law. This young law- 
disciple and Lazarus rode together, and talked 
long and earnestly by the way, the former think- 
ing that nothing but mischief would come of the 
uew prophet’s preaching, while the latter warmly 
defended him and his mission as divine. To 
their conversation the Roman Centurion listened 
with the closest attention, for Saul was learned 
in the Prophets, and drew richly from its stores 


102 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


to prove that the true Messias can never be 
heralded by so mean a messenger as this preacher 
of repentance in the wilderness. Saul eloquently 
drew a gorgeous picture of Messias’ coming, and 
the splendor of his reign, and that angels and 
heavenly signs, and not a wild man of the wilder- 
ness, with water baptism, should prepare the way 
before him. 

At length, as the day closed, we came in sight 
of the walls and towers of Jericho, but succeeded 
in reaching the gates only after they were closed. 
But the presence of the young Centurion caused 
them to be immediately reopened, and we were 
admitted, with some hundreds, who having 
reached the gate after it was shut, now begged 
and received permission to enter in our company. 

The next day we proceeded to Gilgal alone, 
the road being perfectly safe, the courteous 
Roman having early the same morning issued 
from the gates, in haste to pursue the famous 
Barabbas, who had the last night attacked a car- 
avan within four leagues of Jordan, and taken 
much booty, as well as slain many men. 

‘‘T now write to thee beneath the roof of the 
summer residence of Rabbi Amos. To-morrow 
early,’’ says a passage which I copy from my 
journal, written there, ‘‘we are going to Betha- 
bara, a little village beyond Jordan, but on its 
banks, near which we learn John is now baptiz- 
ing, he being no longer at the ford of Jordan, 
where my cousin Mary’s betrothed, John, found 
him, and was baptized of him a few weeks ago. 
Lazarus has gone on with Saul, and the learned 
Gamaliel, with many lawyers and doctors in com- 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 103 


pany, who desire to see and hear this prophet of 
the wilderness. ’”’ 

Indeed, dear father, the advent of a prophet is 
of so rare an occurrence among us, that the bare: 
idea that John the Baptizer may be a true prophet 
of God has moved the great heart of Israel, and 
stirred up curiosity, hope, and marvel, in the 
highest degree ever known in the land. ‘There 
seems to be but one subject, and but one thought. 
Every man says to hisneighbor: ‘‘Have you séen 
or heard the new prophet? Is he Messias, or is 
he Elias ?’’ 

My next letter will give you a narration, my 
dear father, of what I witnessed at Bethabara, 
and will, perhaps, more deeply interest you than 
anything I have yet written. 

That the hope of Israel may not be long de- 
ferred, and that we may receive the Messias, 
when he cometh, in humble faith, in honor, and 
in leve, in the prayer of 

Your affectionate daughter, 
ADINA. 


104 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


LETTER IX. 


My Dear Faruer: In these letters to you which 
give an account of my excursion with Rabbi 
Amos to the Jordan, I hope you will pardon the 
details which I enter into, for it is my earnest 
desire that you should see everything with my 
eyes, as if you had been present with me; in 
order that you may, though absent, be able to 
judge as if you had been an eye-witness of the 
remarkable events of which I have undertaken to 
give you a complete history. I know that your 
liberal mind, and your sense of equity and jus- 
tice, will lead you to read all I have to write 
before you take upon you to make a reply to the 
facts which, with filial love and reverence, J 
present to your consideration. 

After Rabbi Amos had reached the house in 
the wheatfields of Gilgal, where he intended to 
take up his sojourn for the two weeks of harvest, 
and had directed his servants what to do, he 
kindly told us that he was ready to accompany 
my cousin Mary and myself to the Jordan, to 
hear the prophet. It was with no little gratifica- 
tion, therefore, that my cousin and myself once 
more mounted our mules, and proceeded toward 
the place where we heard the prophet was baptiz- 
ing. But we had not ridden a great way from 
the house when we overtook two men on foot, 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 105 


with staves in their hands and wallets upon their 
shoulders. As we passed, one of them raised his 
cap with respect to Rabbi Amos, who, from his 
rank as a priest, and his venerable appearance, 
always commands the homage of all men. 

‘“Whither goest thou at such a pace, friend 
Matthew?’’ said Rabbi Amos, returning his 
salute; for he seemed to know him. ‘‘Canst 
thou leave thy tax-gathering these busy times to 
go into the wilderness ?’’ 

The person, who was a man of stout figure, 
with dark hair and beard, and a look of intelli- 
gence, but whose costume was plain and ill-worn, 
smiled, and answered: 

*“‘TIf a man would find thy payers of tribute 
nowadays, good master, he must not stay at 
home, forsooth, but go into the wilderness of 
Jordan where all men have gone. Verily, this 
new prophet emptieth our towns, and we publi- 
cans must remain idle in our seat of customs, or 
go with the tide.’’ 

‘““Thy words are near the truth, friend Mat- 
thew,’’ answered my uncle; ‘‘but hast thou no 
other motive in thy heart than looking after thy 
Roman coins, in taking this journey from Jeri- 
cho ?”’ 

*‘T have curiosity to see a man whom multi- 
tudes resort to from Galilee, and from Decapolis, 
and from Jerusalem, and from all Judea, and 
from beyond Jordan. ”’ 

**And thinkest thou,’’ continued my uncle, as 
the two men walked along by the side of his 
mule, ‘‘thinkest thou this prophet is a true son 
of the prophets ?”’ 


106 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


‘‘He works no miracles, unless, indeed, the 
power of his preaching be a miracle,’’ answered 
Matthew. 

‘“This man is an impostor. There can be no 
prophet unless he prove his mission by miracles,’’ 
suddenly said the companion of Matthew, speak~ 
ing up abruptly in a sharp and unpleasing voice. 
Now neither Mary nor I liked the face of this man 
from the first. He was of good height, he was 
well featured, and his attire was rich; but he 
had a haughty air, combined with a cringing 
deference to Rabbi Amos, that made me think he 
must be a hypocrite. He smiled with his mouth 
and teeth, but at the same time looked sinister 
out of hiseyes. Hehadan air of humility which 
seemed to me to be put on to conceal the pride 
and wickedness of his character. He looked like 
a man who could artfully deceive to gain his self- 
ish ends, and who would kneel to you to overturn 
you. The sound of his voice confirmed my first 
impression of him. Upon his speaking, Rabbi 
Amos fixed his eyes upon him, as if he did not 
like the manner of his breaking in upon the con- 
versation, and then mildly replied: 

‘““Moses performed no miracles. Aaron, or 
Aaron’s rod was the instrument whereby these 
were done before Pharaoh. This prophet may 
be as Aaron to the great Prophet he foretelleth. 
What is thy companion’s name, friend Matthew ?’’ 
he asked aside, as the other walked on ahead. 

‘*His name is Judas, called Iscariot. He hath 
been engaged by me to bear the moneys I collect 
in the country villages; and as we are to gather 
taxes both at Gilgal and Bethabara, he cometh 
with me.”’ 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE cF DAYID. 107 


We now came in sight of the Jordan, but could 
discover no crowd upon its banks. While we 
were wondering at not beholding any signs of 
the multitude, we met a stranger who was riding 
a horse, and coming from the northward, who, 
seeing us apparently in perplexity, inquired with 
courtesy if we were not seeking John the prophet. 
Upon Rabbi Amos replying in the affirmative, the 
horseman informed us that he had removed up 
the river, some two hours’ ride, and was then 
baptizing at the little village of Bethabara, on 
the east bank of Jordan; and he added that not 
less than eight thousand people must be throng- 
ing the shore. 

‘*Dost thou know this stranger?’’ asked of 
Matthew Rabbi Amos, who had _ gratefully 
thanked him for his intelligence, looking back 
after him as herodeon. ‘‘I saw thee salute him.”’ 

‘‘He is an officer of Herod the Tetrarch’s 
household,’’ was the response, ‘‘a Hebrew of 
great wealth, and he payeth more tribute-money 
to the emperor from his lands than any Israelite 
between Jericho and Jerusalem.’’ 

At length, dear father, after hastening the 
speed of our mules, and riding pleasantly for two 
hours along the verdant banks of Jordan, we 
came in sight of a square tower of stone, peering 
above the trees which marked the site of the vil- 
lage of Bethabara. ‘‘That tower,’’ said Rabbi 
Amos, ‘‘stands over a cave in which Elijah long 
dwelt, and in which Isaiah at one time concealed 
himself from his enemies. It is now called the 
‘Tower of Elijah.’ From the summit of yonder 
hill, at the left, the prophet was caught up, and 


108 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID 


ascended to heaven upon the chariot of fire; and 
near where you see the single rock, Elisha divided 
Jordan with the fallen mantle left him by the 
ascending prophet of God.”’ 

All these places, with many others which the 
intelligent Rabbi Amos pointed out to us. were 
very interesting to me, for nothing commands 
my attention so profoundly as allusions to the 
scenes of the olden days of the prophets and 
kings of Israel. While my eyes were fixed upon 
the hill, and my imagination presented to me 
Elijah upon the chariot of heaven, disappearing 
amid the clouds, there was an opening in the 
wood before us, and all at once we beheld a scene 
that made my heart cease to beat, it was so new 
and wonderful. At that place the river takes a 
broad curve, and the opposite village of Betha- 
bara lies in the hollow of it, forming the center 
of half a circle. This wide curving shore was 
alive with the human heads that filled it. Nota 
place could be seen where some one did not 
stand. And of this vast multitude every eye was 
concentrated upon the prophet, as from the cres- 
cent tiers of the amphitheater in Alexandria all 
gaze at once upon the scenes passing in the 
arena. He was standing on the opposite shore 
(for Jordan here was very narrow, and can be 
forded), on the verge of the water, addressing 
the countless assembly that stood opposite and 
half-encircling him. Near him, behind, and on 
either side, sat his disciples, at least a hundred 
in number, chiefly young men. Behind rose the 
Tower of Elijah, and receding further from the 
shore lay the sweet village of Bethabara, with its 
green gardens and snow-white walls. 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 109 


The clear voice of the youthful prophet of the 
wilderness fell distinctly on our ears, so great 
was the stillness of the vast audience. We could 
not approach very near on our mules, and dis- 
mounting on the outskirts of the throng, we left 
them with the two servants, and on foot drew as 
near to the place where the prophet stood as we 
could. Many of the people, seeing and recogniz- 
ing Rabbi Amos, made way for him, so that at 
length we stood directly opposite the speaker, 
with a full view of him, so that we could hear 
every word. To my surprise I saw John, the 
cousin of Mary, standing close to the prophet, 
and listening with the deepest and most reverent 
attention to every word he uttered. Thesubject 
of the prophet’s discourse was as before, and as 
always, the coming of the Messias. Oh, that I 
could give you my dear father the faintest idea 
of the power and eloquence of his words! 

““There is no remission of sin without shedding 
of blood,’’ he said earnestly. ‘‘The baptism of 
water with which I baptize you is unto repent- 
ance; but there must be blood outpoured ere sin 
can be washed away! Do you ask me if the 
blood of bulls and goats take not away sin? I 
answer and say unto you that the Lord hath said 
that he delighteth not in these rivers of blood.’’ 

**For what, then, great prophet,’’ asked one of 
the chief Levites who stood near us, ‘‘for what 
then are the sacrifices ordained by the Law of 
Moses? For what then thealtar and the Temple, 
and the daily sacrifice of the Lamb ?”’’ 

*‘For what,’’ repeated the prophet, with his 
eyes beaming with the earnest light of inspira< 


110 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


tion, ‘‘for what but as types and shadows of the 
true blood—of the real and true sacrifice ap- 
pointed by God from the foundation of the 
world! Think ye Ican slay the lamb of my flock 
for the sin of my soul? If God demands thy 
life, shall he accept the life of a brute? Nay, 
men of Israel, the day has come when your eyes 
shall be opened. ‘The hour is at hand when the 
true meaning of the daily sacrifice shall be under- 
stood. Lo! the Messiah cometh, and ye shall 
see and believe!’’ 

There now came several persons toward him 
who desired baptism. While he was baptizing 
these persons, both men and women, I saw appear 
on the little mound near the tower from which 
Rabbi Amos had said Elijah ascended, Lazarus, 
the brother of Martha, accompanied by a man of 
about his own years, of an indescribable dignity 
and grace of aspect, combined with an air of 
benevolence and peace that at once attracted me. 

**It must be the friend of Lazarus,’’ said Mary 
to me; for she had discovered them at the same 
time. ‘‘See with what calm serenity he gazes 
upon the multitude, yet retiring in his manner 
as if he shrank from the common eye!’’ He was 
wrapped in avesture of dark blue cloth, which 
was folded about his form; his head was bare, 
and his dark hair flowed down about his shoulders. 
He seemed so unlike all other men, in a certain 
majesty united with sweetness that marked his 
whole air, that I could not withdraw my gaze 
from him. 

The prophet at the same moment rested his 
eyes upon him, and as he did so I saw a change 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 111] 


eome over his face, as if he had seen an angel. 
His eyes shone with unearthly brilliancy, his 
lips parted as if he would speak, yet had lost the 
power; and then with his right hand stretched 
forth toward the noble stranger, he stood for a 
moment like a statue. Alleyes followed his, and 
the direction of his stretched-out arm. Sud- 
denly he exclaimed, and oh, how like the trumpet 
of Horeb his voice rang: 

**Behold!’’ 

There was not aface in that vast multitude 
that was not directed toward the little eminence, 
where Lazarus, evidently amazed at the attitude 
and words of the prophet, and the gaze of all that 
way, stood by his friend. 

*“*Ye have asked wherefore is slain the daily 
lamb,’’ continued the prophet. ‘‘The day has 
come when the lamb of sacrifice, which can take 
away no sin, shall cease. Behold!’’ and here 
he stretched forth both arms toward the dignified 
stranger: ‘‘Behold the Lamb of God which taketh 
away the sins of the world. He it is who, com- 
ing after me, is preferred before me. He itis 
to whom I bear witness as the Messiah, the Son of 
the Highest! There stands the Christ of God! 
Behold the only true Lamb, whose blood can 
wash away the iniquities of us all! He hath 
stood among you—He hath walked your streets 
—He hath sat in your homes, and I knew him 
not, till I now behold above Him the sign of the 
Messiah, and therefore know I that it is He who 
is to redeem Israel!’’ 

When the prophet had thus spoken in a voice 
that thrilled to every bosom, we beheld the august 


112 . PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


stranger advance toward the prophet. He moved 
on alone. Lazarus had fallen prostrate on his 
face when he heard that it was the Messiah with 
whom he had thus been on terms of friendship. 
As he continued to come forward, all was expec- 
tation in the immense multitude. The mass of 
heads swayed this way and that to get a sight of 
his face, which I could see was serene, but pale 
and earnest. John, the cousin of Mary, seeing 
him approach, lowly knelt, and bowed his head 
in reverential awe and love. Those who stood 
between him and the prophet moved apart and 
left an open path for him to the waterside. He 
walked at a slow and even pace, with an air of 
humility veiling the native dignity of his kingly 
port. 

The prophet, on seeing him come near, re- 
garded Him, as it seemed to me, with more awe 
than all others. 

‘‘What wouldst thou of thy servant, oh, Mes- 
siah, Prophet of God, mighty to save?’’ he said, 
in tremulous tones, as the Messiah came even 
some paces into the water toward him. 

*“To be baptized of thee,’’ answered the Christ 
in a still quiet voice that was heard to the remot- 
est bounds of the crowd. Never, oh, never shall 
I forget the sounds of that voice as it fell upon 
my ears! 

““T have need to be baptized of Thee, and com- 
ast Thov 40 me?’’ answered the prophet, with the 
lowliest humility and awe of manner, and with 
looks expressive of his amazement 

‘It becometh us to fulfill all righteousness, ”’ 
answered Messiah mildly; and when He had said 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 113 


this, the prophet, though still with a manner of 
doubt, and with the holiest reverence, adminis- 
tered unto Him, in the sight of all the people, 
the same baptism which he had administered to 
his disciples. 

And now, my dear father, comes to be related 
the most extraordinary thing that ever took place 
an Israel, and before human eyes, and which it 
must be clear to you bears unquestionable testi- 
mony that Jesus of Nazareth, the noble stranger 
baptized in Jordan, and to whom John bore wit- 
ness, is truly Messias, the Son of God. 

No sooner did the baptized stranger go up out 
of the water, than there was heard above all our 
heads a noise of rolling thunder, although the 
sky was cloudless; and when we looked up we 
beheld a dazzling light, though it was noonday, 
brighter than the sun; and from the midst of 
‘this celestial splendor there darted with arrowy 
velocity a ray of light which descended upon the 
head of the Christ. Some of the people said it 
thundered; and others that it lightened; but 
judge the amazement and admiration of all, and 
the dread awe that shook every soul, when, amid 
the glory above his head, was seen the form of a 
dove of fire, with outspread wings overshadowing 
Him, as it were, and from the heavens what was 
supposed to be thunder, shaped itself into the 
--voice of God, which uttered these words in the 
hearing of every ear: 

“This is my beloved Son in whom I am well 
pleased. Hear ye Him.’”’ 

At hearing these words a great part of the 
amoultitude fell on their faces. Every cheek was 


114 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


pale, aud éach man gazed on his neighbor in 
wonder and feaz. When the majestic, yet terri- 
ble voice had given utterance to these words, the 
light disappeared, the dove reascended to the 
skies, and was lost to the sight; and Messias, 
who alone seemed unmoved and calm amid all 
this awful scene, went up from the river and dis- 
appeared suddenly from my earnest gaze. At 
length, when men came a little to themselves, and 
would gaze on Him whom all knew now to be the 
Christ, no one could find Him, so effectually had 
he withdrawn himself from their homage. 
Your aftectionate 
ADINA. 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 1i5 


LETTER X. 


My Dear Farner: I will commence this letter 
by asking your dispassionate perusal of my pre- 
ceding epistle, and entreating you not to let any 
prejudice unworthy of the wisdom and liberality 
by which you are distinguished among men, lead 
you to reject, without examination, belief of the 
events which have formed the subject of my 
recent letters to you, and to close your mind to 
the convictions to which they may give rise. 
Please, my honored and beloved father, please to 
consider impartially the things of which I have 
written, the preaching of John, and his baptism 
of Jesus, whom, before ten thousand people he 
declared to be Messias, to whom he bore witness, 
and how the voice of God, as audible in the ears 
of all as that which shook Horeb, proclaimed 
from heaven that he was ‘‘His beloved son!’’ 
Think of all this, and ask yourself seriously, ‘‘Is 
not this the Christ ?’’ 

This question need not pass far on its way ere 
it finds a response from my lips and heart: ‘‘ Yes, 
it is the Christ, and I will believe in Him!’’ 

I can see your face, my dear father, change its 
expression of mild benignity, as you read this 
confession from my pen! Ican see youlook both 
displeased and grieved. But you have no reason 
to fear that I shall do or believe aught that will 


116 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


bring shame on your gray hairs, or your name. 
If thou art a Jew, and proud of being descended 
from the lineage of the Patriarchs who walked 
/ with the Lord, I am also equally proud of my 
nation and of my faith. In believing Jesus of 
Nazareth to be the Messias of God, I do not make 
myself less a Jewess; but, without believing it, 
my dear father, I could not be completely a 
Jewess. Has not the Messias of our nation been 
the burden of Judah’s prayer, and of Israel’s 
hope, for ages? Does not the belief that Messias 
cometh, constitute one of the great characteris- 
tics of the Jewish race? Do the Gentiles look for 
the Christ? If not, then, and we alone look for 
him, and every mother in Israel hopes trem- 
blingly, with joy and doubt, that he may be 
found in her first-born son, is it that I am less a 
Jewess, or rather that Iam only a true Jewess, 
when I believe Jesus to be the Messias, seeing in 
Him all that a Messias could bring, even the 
voice of God in testimony of His Mission? But 
I sincerely trust, my dear father, that Iam de- 
fending my belief unnecessarily, and that when 
you come to read and compare, and examine well, 
you will rejoice with me that God has remem- 
bered Israel, and that He is about to take away 
her reproach among the nations. 

I shall wait for your next parcel of letters with 
the deepest solicitude, in order that I may know 
what your decision is in reference to these ex- 
traordinary things which are coming to pass. 
You will not hear them only from my letters, 
dear father, for the report of these wonders is 
broadcast over the land, and men who witnessed 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 11? 


the baptism of Jesus, will, no doubt, report in 
Egypt what then took place, especially the voice 
of God rolling like articulate thunder along the 
cloudless sky, and the descent of the fiery dove 
upon the head of the new Prophet. Merchants 
of Damascus and of Cairo were present, leaving 
their trains of camels a little way off; and Arab 
horsemen sat in their saddles on the outside of 
the crowd; while Roman soldiers, strangers from 
Persia and Edom, and even the merchants from 
Media, with numerous people, Gentiles as well as 
Jews, were seen mingled with the multitude. 
This thing, therefore, was not done in a corner. 
The voice I plainly heard, and understood every 
word! It seemed to me to come from the far 
blue depths of heaven at an immeasurable dis- 
tance, but with the clearness of a trumpet, and 
the sonorous majesty of thunder. But the light 
which descended was the most dazzling that 
human eyes ever encountered; and though when 
descending with the velocity of lightning, it 
seemed like a lance of fire, yet, upon reaching 
the bared head of Jesus, as He came forth out of 
the water, it assumed, as I before stated, the 
shape of a dove; and, resting upon Him, over- 
shadowed Him with its wings of light, and cast 
over his whole person a glittering splendor, like 
the sun. This lasted for full a minute, so that 
all eyes beheld it, and then came the voice from 
heaven! The brilliancy of the light from the 
dove was so resplendent that I could not behold 
it; and when I looked again it had disappeared ; 
but a halo of softened luster shone still around 
the head of Jesus, and his face, like that of 


118 FRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


Moses, emitted rays of glory. While thousands 
either stood stupefied, or fell upon their faces in 
adoration and fear, He withdrew himself from 
the multitude, no one knew how, save two per- 
sons, whose eyes never wandered from him. These 
were the cousin of Mary, John, and Lazarus, the 
brother of Mary and Martha. 

The people, after recovering a little from their 
amazement and awe, were looking for Him, and 
inquiring whither he had gone, some gazing into 
the water, some toward the wilderness, some even 
gazing upward into heaven, of which I was one, 
as if they expected to behold Him ascending 
upon a chariot of dazzling clouds toward the 
throne of his God and Father, who had acknowl- 
edged dim to be his Son. The general impres- 
sion was, that He was taken up into heaven; and 
some wept that a Prophet was sent to be taken so 
soon; while others rejoiced that the Lord had 
not forgotten to be gracious unto the house of 
Israel; some doubted, and called it magic and 
sorcery; and others, who were doubtless filled 
with their own wickedness, mocked, and said the 
voice was thunder, and the light lightning. But 
here they were disputed against, for said, hun- 
dreds, ‘‘there is no cloud in the sky, then whence 
could come thunder and lightning?’’ But the 
majority believed and greatly rejoiced at what 
they had seen and heard. The prophet John, of 
Jordan, appeared to me to be more surprised at 
what had taken place than any others. He 
looked constantly around for Jesus, and then, 
with his hands clasped together and uplifted, 
gazed heavenward, as if satisfied, with the thou- 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 119 


sands around him, that he had been received up 
into heaven. 

The excitement which the sudden disappear- 
ance of Jesus produced, led to a universal sepa- 
ration of the multitude, who dispersed in all 
directions, some to seek for Him, some to spread 
the news of what they had seen, and all forget- 
ting John, whom they had hitherto followed, in 
the greater splendor of the new Prophet, whose 
advent had been so remarkably accompanied by 
fire and a voice from the sky. 

Rabbi Amos and our party remained standing 
near the water, for he did not wish us to be lost 
in the retiring throngs, and he desired to speak 
with John, who stood alone in the midst of the 
water, precisely where he had baptized Jesus. 
Not one of his disciples remained with him. 
Rabbi Amos drew near, and said to him: 

‘Holy prophet, knowest thou what man, if 
man he may be called, was just baptized by 
thee?’’ 

The prophet, whose eyes had been steadfastly 
raised all the while, bent his looks with tearful 
tenderness upon Rabbi Amos, and said plain- 
tively and touchingly: 

‘‘This is He of whom I said—After me cometh 
aman which is preferred before me, for He was 
before me. And I knew Him not; but He that 
sent me to baptize with water, the same said 
unto me ‘Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit 
descending and remaining on Him, the same is 
He that baptizes with the Holy Ghost.’ And I 
saw the Spirit descending like a dove, and I saw 
and bear record this is the Son of God!’’ 


120 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


\ 

*“And whither, oh, holy prophet of Jordan,™ 
asked Rabbi Amos, with deep and sacred inter- 
est, ‘‘whither has He departed ?’’ 

‘“That I know not! He must increase and E 
must decrease, whether He remaineth on earth, 
or be taken up into heaven! My mission is now 
drawing to its close: for He to whom I have 
borne witness is come.’’ 

‘“And is He come to depart so soon forever ?’* 
I asked, with deep interest; ‘‘shall we behold 
Him no more?’’ 

‘‘The hidden things belong to God. I know 
not whence He came, for I knew Him not until 
the Spirit descended and abode upon Him, nor 
whither He goeth. Ye have heard my testimony 
that this is the Messias, the Christ, the Son of 
God!’’ 

Thus speaking, he turned and walked out of 
the water on the side toward Bethabara, and dis- 
appeared among the trees that fringed the bank. 
I now looked in the face of Rabbi Amos, upon 
whose arm Mary was tearfully leaning, stilh 
under the influence of the terror which the scenes. 
she had been a spectator of had produced in her 
soul. His face was grave and thoughtful. E 
said, ‘‘Uncle, dost thou believe all that thou hast. 
seen and heard ?”’ 

**T know not. what to say,’’ he answered, ‘‘only 
that the things which I have beheld this day are 
evidences that God has not forgotten his people 
Israel!’’ He said no more. We left the banks 
of the Jordan in silence and awe, and remounting: 
our mules, which the two Gibeonite slaves held 
for us in waiting under a palm tree not far off, 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. T2E 


we returned toward my uncle’s house at Gilgal. 
On the way we constantly passed crowds of peo- 
ple who were riding and walking; and all were 
in high talk about what had taken place at the 
river. The impression seemed to be that Jesus 
had gone up into heaven. 

But, my dear father, it is with deep joy that IE 
am able to tell you that this wonderful person is 
still on the earth, and doubtless permitted to 
remain for some great purpose. I stated that 
my cousin John, and Lazarus, the Secretary ot 
the Scribes, had kept their eyes upon Him from 
the first, and that they had seen Him pass dowm 
the river, where some projecting and overhang- 
ing trees hid Him at once from view. Though 
they often lost sight of Him, they yet followed 
Him by the print of His sandals in the wet sand 
of the shore; and at length came in view of Him 
as He was leaving the river bank and going 
toward the desert between two hills which hid 
Him from their eyes. But one of the young men 
said to the other, while: both were burning with 
wonder and love: 

*‘Let us not fail to overtake Him, and follow 
Him whithersoever He goeth; for with Him 
must be the well of life, as He is the highly 
favored of God.”’ 

So they went on; but though they moved om 
rapidly, they next saw Him far distant, crossing 
the arid plain that stretches south toward Jericho 
and the desert. They ran very swiftly, and at 
length overtook Him, calling ‘‘Master, good 
master, stay for us, for we would follow and 
jearn of thee!’’ 


122 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


He stopped, and turned upon them a look so 
pale, and marred with sadness and anguish, that 
they both stood still and gazed on Him with 
amazement at such a change. The glory of his 
beauty had passed way, and the beaming splen- 
dor which shone from his countenance was wholly 
gone. The expression of unutterable sorrow that 
remained pierced them to the heart. Lazarus, 
who had been so long his bosom friend, wept 
aloud. ‘‘Weep not! thou shalt see me another 
day, my friends,’’ He said. ‘‘I go now to the 
wilderness in obedience to the Spirit which 
guideth me thither. Thou shalt, after a time, 
behold me again. It is expedient that I go 
whither I go.”’ 

***Nay, but we will go with thee,’’ said Laza- 
rus, earnestly. ‘‘If thou art to endure evil, we 
will be with thee.’’ 

‘“There must be none to help. There must be 
none to uphold,’’ He said firmly but sadly. ‘“‘I 
must tread the wine press of temptation alone!’’ 

He then left them, waving his hand for them 
to go back, which they did sorrowfully, wonder- 
ing what his words meant, and wherefore it was 
needful for Him to go into the desert, where cer- 
tain mysterious trials seemed to wait for Him; 
and they wondered most of all at the change in 
his countenance, which from being lustrous with 
celestial light was now, said Lazarus, ‘‘marred 
more than thesons of men.’’ From time to time 
the two young men looked backward to watch 
the receding figure of the Christ, till they no 
longer distinguished Him in the distance of the 
desert, toward which He steadfastly kept his 
face. 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 123 


The two friends then came to the house of 
Rabbi Amos at Gilgal the same night, and there 
Lazarus made known to us what I have just re- 
lated. It affected us all deeply; and we sat 
together late at night upon the porch under the 
fig trees, talking of Jesus, and the things that 
had transpired concerning Him that day; and 
though we all rejoiced that He was on earth, we 
wept to think that He was driven by some destiny 
unknown and unfathomable by us, to dwell alone 
in the wilderness. 

Now, my dear father, how wonderful is all 
this! That a great Prophet is among us, cannot 
be denied. The sun of John the Baptizer’s fame 
dwindles into a star before this Son of God! 
That He will draw all men unto Him, even into 
the wilderness, if He takes up his abode there, 
eannot be questioned. But all is mystery, awe, 
curiosity, wonder, and excitement just now. 
No one has settled upon any opinion as to what 
will be the end of these things. Rabbi Amos 
advises all persons to wait patiently the issue, for 
if God has sént a Prophet, He must have a mis- 
sion which in due time He will come forth from 
the wilderness to deliver. In my next I may be 
able to write you something further touching the 
development of that which, remains so much 
enveloped in mystery. May the God of our 
father’s house come forth indeed from the 
heavens for the salvation of His People. 

Your devoted and loving 


ADINA. 


g24 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


LETTER Xt. 


My Dear Faruer In my last letter to you: I 
spoke of our return from Jordan to Gilgal, to 
the country-house in the wheatfields of Peniel, 
where Rabbi Amos sojourns during the two 
weeks of harvest. At the house were assembled 
not only John, the cousin of Mary, and the 
noble Lazarus, but also Gamaliel, and Saul his 
disciple, of whom I have before spoken, who 
were invited to partake of my uncle’s hospitality 
for the night; besides, the court of the dwelling 
was thronged with strangers, and the common 
people, who, being far from their homes, and 
without food, had freely been invited to lodgings 
and food by the hospitable priest. 

As we sat up late conversing upon the remark- 
able events of the day, an observation made by 
John, when speaking of the change in the face of 
Jesus, that ‘‘His visage was marred more than 
the sons of men,’’ led the venerable Gamaliel to 
say to us: 

“Those are the words of Esaias, and are truly 
spoken of Messias, when He shall come.’’ 

‘“‘Let us consult Hsaias, then, and see what 
further he hath said,’’ cried Rabbi Amos. 
‘‘Mary, bring hither the roll of the Prophets. ’’ 

My cousin Mary returned, and placed it ona 
small stand before him, for, as I said in my last, 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAYID. 125 


we were all seated in the porch, where the even- 
ing breeze was cool. A lamp then being 
brought, I held it above the roll of parchmeni, 
while my uncle found the part of the Prophet te 
which the words belonged. 

**Read aloud, worthy Rabbi,’’ said the philos- 
opher Gamaliel, ‘‘we will all listen; for though 
I do not believe this young man who was to-day 
baptized is Messias and Christ, who is to restore 
all things to us, yet I am prepared to reverence’ 
Him as a Prophet.’’ 

‘*And,’’ answered Rabbi Amos, ‘‘if we find the 
prophecies do meet in him which we look for to 
meet in Messias when He cometh, wilt thou 
believe, venerable father ?’’ 

**T will believe and reverently adore,’’ answered 
the sage, bowing his head till his flowing white 
beard touched his knees. 

**Read, Adina, for thy eyes are young,’’ said 
my uncle; and obedient, though embarrassed 
before such an audience, I read as follows: 

‘*Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he 
shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. 
As many were astonished at thee, His visage was 
so marred more than any man, and His form 
more than the sons of men.’’ 

‘“How completely,’’ said John, ‘‘these words 
describe his appearance on the verge of the 
desert.’ 

‘“But,’’ said Saul, Gamaliel’s disciple, ‘‘if this 
be prophesied of the Christ, then we are to have 
a Christ of dishonor, and not one of honor and 
glory. Read one part that you have omitted, 
and you will see that there are words that import 


126 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


a higher condition than that of this unknown 
person whom John the Baptizer himself con- 
fessed he did not know, nor ever beheld before. ”’ 

I read on as follows: ‘‘Behold my servant shall 
be exalted and extolied, and be very high. He 
shall sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut 
their mouths at Him. He shall lift up his hand 
to the Gentiles, and set up his standard to the 
people. Kings shall bow down to Him with 
their faces to the earth, and lick up the dust of 
his feet!’’ 

‘‘There! such is our Messias,’’ exclaimed Saul. 

‘*Yes, it is a Christ of power and dominion 
who is to redeem Israel,’’ added Gamaliel; ‘‘not 
an unknown young man, scarcely thirty years of 
age, who came from whence no one knoweth, and 
hath gone as he came. As for the Christ, we 
shall know whence He cometh!’’ 

At hearing this great and good man thus dis- 
course, dear father, my heart sank within me; 
for I could not but confess that these prophesies 
of honor could not apply to the humble person 
John had baptized; for Lazarus had already told 
us that his friend Jesus was of humble birth, a 
carpenter’s son, and his mother a widow; that he 
had known him from boyhood, but known him 
only to love him. I now looked toward him, but 
I took courage when I saw that the words of 
Gamaliel did not in the least dim the light of his 
faith and confidence, which sparkled in his eyes, 
that his friend Jesus was truly Messias of God. 
But my eye fell on what follows, and as I read it 
I gained more confidence: ‘‘He hath no form nor 
comeliness: and when we shall see him there is 
no beauty that we should desire him.’’ 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 127 


‘“TIf the first part of this prophecy,’’ said 
Lazarus, his fine eyes lighting up, as he looked 
at Saul, “‘be of the Christ, as you have confessed, 
then is this last of him; and the fact that you 
reject him, is but the fulfillment of this part of 
the prophecy.’’ 

Hereupon arose a very warm discussion be- 
tween Gamaliel and Saul on one side, and Rabbi 
Amos, John, and Lazarus, on the other, the 
former contending that the prophecies referred to 
two distinct Christs, one of whom was to be lowly 
and a sufferer, and the other honorable and a 
conqueror; while the latter maintained that the 
seemingly opposite predictions referred to but 
one Christ in two different periods and circum- 
stances of his life. 

‘*But let this be as it may,’’ said John, after 
the arguments on both sides had been exhausted, 
‘‘how will you, O Gamaliel, and you, Saul, get 
over the extraordinary voice and fiery appearance 
which distinguished the baptism ?’’ 

“That must have been a phenomenon of 
nature, or done by the art of a Babylonish sor- 
cerer, whom I saw in the multitude,’’ answered 
the philosopher. 

‘Did you not hear the words?’’ asked Rabbi 
Amos. 

**Yes, rabbi; nevertheless, they may have been 
thrown into the air from the lungs of the sor- 
cerer; for they do marvelous things.’’ 

‘*Would you suppose that a sorcerer would be 
disposed to appiy the sacred words of the 
Lord?’’ asked John earnestly. 


128 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


*“By no means,’’ he answered reverently. 

“*¥f Rabbi Amos will allow me, I will show you 
the very words in King David’s prophecies of 
Messias. ’’ 

All looked with interest on John, as he took 
from his mantle a roll of the Psalms. He read 
as follows, looking at Gamaliel: 

‘“Wk-- do the rulers take counsel together 
against the Lord, and against his anointed? I 
will declare the decree. The Lord hath said 
unto me, ‘Thou art my Son; this day have I 
begotten thee.’ ”’ 

Upon hearing this read, Gamaliel was thought- 
ful. Rabbi Amos said: ‘‘Of a truth, we Jews 
believe these words to be spoken to our Christ by 
the Lord Jehovah. Have we not heard this 
prophecy fulfilled this very day in our ears?’’ 

‘It is extraordinary,’’ answered Gamaliel. ‘‘I 
will search the scriptures when I reach Jerusa- 
lem, to see if these things be so.”’ 

**And the light in the form of a dove! Dost 
thou find an explanation for that?’’ asked Rabbi 
Amos. | 

““No,’’ answered he; ‘‘and I will withhold all 
further opinion for the present. ’’ 

““It becomes you, O Gamaliel,’’ said Rabbi 
Amos, ‘‘who art a father and teacher in Israel, to 
know whether these things be so, that thou may- 
est teach thy disciples. ’’ 

‘“But,’’ said Saul with some vehemence, ‘‘listen 
while I read some prophecies also.’’ And he 
unrolled a book of the Prophets and read these 
words: 

“< «Thou Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 129 


littie among the thousands of Judah, yet out of 
thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be 
Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been 
ever of old, from everlasting.’ Now, you will 
confess, Rabbi Amos,’’ he added, with a look of 
triumph, ‘‘that this refers to our expected 
Messias. ”’ 

‘*Without doubt,’’ answered my uncle— 
ul 8S Ss pee aoe 

‘*Wait,’’ said Saul, ‘‘until I read you another 
prophecy: ‘I have made a covenant with David, 
Thy seed will I establish forever, and build up 
thy throne to all generations. His seed shall 
endure forever, and his throne as the sun before 
me. Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, 
that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch.’ 
Now you will all admit, brethren, that these 
prophecies refer to Messias. He is therefore to 
come of the lineage of David, and he is to be 
born in Bethlehem. Show me that this Jesus, 
the Nazarene, fulfills both conditions in his own 
person, and I will prepare to believe in him.’’ 

This was said haughtily, and with the air of 
one who cannot be answered. 

But immediately Lazarus rose to his feet and 
said: ‘‘Although I did not before know of this 
prophecy, that Christ was to be born in Bethle- 
hem, yet I am overjoyed to find the fact respect- 
ing Jesus fulfills it. He was born in Bethlehem 
of Judah. This I have known some years; 
and 4 

Here, while my heart was bounding with joy, 
Gamaliel said sternly, ‘‘I thought this man was 
born in Nazareth ?’’ 





130 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


*“He has lived,’’ answered Lazarus, ‘‘in Naz- 
areth from childhood only. During the days 
when Cesar Augustus issued a decree that all the 
world should be taxed, his mother, and Joseph 
her husband went up to the city of David to be 
taxed, which is Bethlehem, and there Jesus was 
born, as I have often heard from her lips. But 
it is on the records in the proper office of the 
Temple, and can be referred to there.’’ 

‘‘Admitting, then, that he was born in Bethle- 
hem,’’ said Saul, who appeared to be much given 
to argument, ‘‘you have to prove his lineage from 
David’s line.’’ 

‘Wherefore did his parents go to Bethlehem, 
David’s city, unless they were of his royal line?’’ 
asked Rabbi Amos; ‘‘for none went to any other 
city to be taxed than that of their own family. 
The fact that they went there is strong evidence 
that they were of David’s house.’’ 

*‘Every one born in the city of David,’’ re- 
marked Gamaliel, ‘‘is not of necessity of David’s 
house; but it is surprising if this Jesus was born 
in Bethlehem.’’ 

‘*But may not his lineage be ascertained with- 
out a doubt from the records of the tribes, and of 
their families, kept by the command of the law 
in the Temple?’’ I asked of my uncle. 

‘“Without question. These books of the gen- 
erations of our people are to be relied on,’’ he 
answered. 

“*In fact,’’ said Gamaliel, “‘they are kept with 
the greatest accuracy, and so ordained by God, 
for the very reason that when Messias cometh we 
mav know whether he who claims to be such be 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 131 


of the house of David or no. I will examine the 
book of the Generations, and see if his mother 
and father come of the stock and see of David.’’ 

‘‘And if you find that they do,’’ asked John, 
with emotion, ‘‘can you doubt any longer 
whether Jesus be the Christ? Will not the fact 
of his being born in Bethlehem, and of the line- 
age of David, not to speak of the witness of God’s 
own audible voice, heard by our ears this day— 
will not these facts lead you to believe that he is 
the Christ ?’’ 

‘“They will prevent me from actually rejecting 
him,’’ answered the cold philosopher. ‘‘But 
every child born in Bethlehem, and of the house 
of David, and there are many in Judah, fulfills, 
so far, the conditions of these two prophecies; 
they are not therefore Messias.’”’ 

*“What more can you ask for?’’ asked Mary, 
with feeling,for she as strongly believed that Jesus 
was the Christ as I did, and she was pained by 
so many doubts, and such subtlety of objection 
from those who were so learned in the Prophets. 
But men reason and reason, while women simply 
believe. 

‘*Miracles?’’ answered the disciple of Gamaliel, 
and glancing at the face of his master inquir- 
ingly. 

‘Yes, miracles,’’ answered the sage. ‘‘The 
Messiah is to heal the sick by a word, restore 
sight to the blind, cast out devils, and raise even — 
the dead.’’ And here he desired Saul to read 
the particular prophecy giving the power of 
miracles to the Christ. 

‘If he restore the blind and raise the dead, I 
will doubt no longer,’’ answered Saul. 


> 


132 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


There was at this moment an interruption 
caused by a noisy dispute in the court among 
some of John the Baptist’s disciples, some of 
whom were disposed to acknowledge fully the 
superiority of Jesus; while others, still indulg- 
ing the full fervor of their first conversion, 
stoutly contended for the transcendent greatness 
of him whom they regarded as their own Prophet. 
Rabbi Amos, as host, went out to put an end to 
these disputings, when Gamaliel retired to his 
chamber, and the conversation was not renewed. 

Thus you see, my dear father, that even on the 
very day of these events by eye-witnesses them- 
selves, there is much difference of opinion con- 
cerning who Jesus is; and therefore I do not 
expect you, who are so remote from the scene, 
and who know them only by report, to believe all 
at once, as I myself do. Will you write me and 
tell me what view you take of all this subject, 
and what can be brought from the Scriptures to 
prove that Messias has not yet come? 

The next morning early the people departed 
from the court where they had lodged; and when 
the sun was about an hour high we also took 
saddle and rode to Jericho, where we passed the 
day with Miriam, the daughter of Joel, who was 
cousin to my mother. We found them in very 
creat affliction, and they could not be comforted 
by any consolations which we could administer. 

It seems that her daughter Marah, or Mary, as 
they call her, had been so unfortunate, from her 
extraordinary beauty, as to attract the notice of 
Aimilius Lepidus, the Prefect of the Legion, who 
did honorably, though a Roman, and one of our 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 133 


conquerors, ask her in marriage of her parents. 
But they, being Hebrews, could not consent to 
such a union with a Gentile, and kept her with 
great strictness, so that he might never behold 
her again. But Marah, being very much devoted 
to the love of the noble Roman, and he being also 
attached to her, they met by stratagem, and she 
fled with him to the town of Magdala, where he 
has a villa. She is therefore lost forever to the 
faith of her fathers by this simple flight with a 
Gentile lover who, though he marry her accord- 
ing to the Roman laws, doth not make her an 
honorable wife according to our own. ‘This 
event was the cause of our finding the house of 
Miriam a house of mourning. It has produced 
great indignation among the Jews against the 
Romans. Mary was, I am told, the most beauti- 
ful maiden of the tribe of Benjamin, with golden 
brown hair that flowed to her very feet, and she 
was beloved by all who knew her. Thus am I 
disappointed in seeing her, as I hoped to have 
done; and the pearl armlet which you wished 
me to bestow upon her I still retain in my pos- 
session, a sorrowful memorial of the loved and 
lost. 

Lazarus has returned to Bethany, where his 
occupation demands his attendance; but his 
friend John remained with us, having agreed 
with Lazarus that he would go into the desert 
and not give up his search for the Divine 
Prophet Jesus until he had found him, for both 
young men feel as sad as if they had lost a 
beloved and honored brother. 

Your daughter, 
ADINA. 


134 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


LETTER XII. 


My Dear Faruer: How shall I thank you for 
your forbearance with me, and your kind answers 
to all my letters, filled as they are with so many 
inquiries and opinions, which must surprise, and 
perhaps, displease you. You say that you have 
read all that I have written with impartiality, 
and that you do not marvel that ‘‘one whom you 
are pleased to call so imaginative and full of sen- 
sibility as myself, should be affected by what has 
passed under my observation in Judea.’’ You 
nevertheless refuse, on your part, my dear father, 
to listen, with the least proximation to belief, to 
the extraordinary recital I have given you. - You 
are pleased to question the reality of the voice at 
Jordan, and the presence of the dove of fire, and 
to refer it, as many others try to do who actually 
witnessed it, to an illusion of the senses. You 
are willing to admit that Jesus may be born at 
Bethlehem, for many whom you know ‘‘who are 
not prophets, neither sons of prophets, were born 
there.’’ You are willing to admit that he ‘‘may 
be of the lineage of David, for David’s descend- 
ants are as numerous as they are poor and 
obscure, yet they are not Messias, nor pretend to 
be Christs.’’ You are content with doubting 
the accuracy of the memory of the mother of 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 135 


Lazarus, as to the scene in the Temple, though 
acknowledging you have often seen both Simeon 
and Anna in the Temple, and about the time 
stated by her. But your main objection to re- 
ceiving John’s evidence that this is the Christ 
is, ‘‘that he is poor, of humble station, destitute 
of influence, received baptism of a man, when 
the Messias was to be the baptized of God.’’ 
*“Who,’’ you ask, ‘‘of the wise and the venerated 
and the learned and the aged, with years and 
experience; who of the doctors and lawyers and 
priests; who of the Scribes, and who of the 
Pharisees, and of the great men of Israel, are to 
unite in acknowledging as Him of whom Moses 
and the Prophets did write, as the central sun 
around which ali the dazzling prophecies of 
Esaias revolve; as the end and crown of the law; 
as the Lion of the tribe of Judah; as the Shiloh 
of the nations; as the Wonderful, the Counselor, 
the mighty God and the Prince of Peace; as the 
glory of Israel, and the Joy of the whole Earth 
—an obscure young man of thirty, unlearned in 
letters, the son of a carpenter, a citizen of Naza- 
reth, a city proverbially mean, without name, 
character, power, rank, wealth, influence, or 
talents, and the last that was heard of whom was 
that he had fled into the desert.’’ You add, dear 
father, that this mere enumeration of what the 
true Christ ought to be, with the enumeration of 
what is wanting in this man, should be sufficient 
to convince me that I have given my sympathies 
and faith to one who has no claim to them. You 
say further that ‘‘you do not call my Messias an 
impostor, because so far as you can learn, he has 


136 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


professed nothing, proclaimed nothing, declared 
nothing, respecting himself. In silence he ap- 
peared, and in silence disappeared, none know- 
ing whence or whither;’’ and you close your 
review of my history by saying that ‘‘you shall 
wait for further development before you can give 
the subject your serious consideration. ”’ 

In your next letter, where you again allude to 
the theme, you say that if this prophet reap- 
pears, and from his own lips declares himself 
sent from God, and by an appeal to undisputed 
miracles gives proof of his divine mission, declar- 
ing himself to be the Christ, you will then believe 
in Him, provided the whole of the prophecies can 
be shown to meet in his person. 

On this ground, Iam willing that the issue 
should be met, dearest father; and you add, with 
your usual candor, ‘‘that you will not hesitate to 
acknowledge as the Christ a man who fulfills all 
prophecy in his own person, though he come in 
a state and condition contrary to your precon- 
ceived notions of the character of the Messias; 
for that it would be safer for you to question the 
correctness of your own interpretation of the 
Messiac prophecies hitherto, than the identity 
of one in whom, without question, do meet all 
the golden threads of the predictions relating to 
the Christ.’’ Here I am content, my dear father, 
to let it remain, being fully persuaded that 
though this humble young man, Jesus, hath 
come lowly and obscure, yet He will prove him- — 
self to the world that He is the true Messias, 
Christ of God. , 

Now, my dear father, let me resume the inter- 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 137 


esting subject, of which my letters have been so 
full; and, moreover, as you have desire me still 
to keep you informed of all that transpires touch- 
ing Jesus of Nazareth, and as no theme upon 
which i can write is so pleasing to me, I will 
narrate all that I have heard since I last wrote te 
you. 

It is now eight weeks since our return from 
Gilgal. For five weeks after we reached Jerusa- 
lem, we heard nothing of Jesus until John re- 
appeared. He and Lazarus came into the city 
together, and to the house of Rabbi Amos. Our 
first inquiry was: 

‘“Have you seen him? Have you heard any- 
thing from him ?’’ 

*‘John has seen him,’’ answered Lazarus seri- 
ously; ‘‘ask him and he will tell you all.’’ 

We looked at John, who sat sad and pensive, 
as 1f he were dwelling in his mind upon some 
painful, yet tender sorrow. The eyes of my 
Cousin Mary, which always caught their luster 
from his, were shaded with an inquiring look of 
sympathy and solicitude. 

‘““You are not well, I fear,’’ she said, placing 
her fair hand upon his white brow, and putting 
back the hair from his temples. ‘‘You have 
been long away, and are weary and ill.’’ 

‘‘Weary, Mary? I shall never complain of 
weariness again, after what I have beheld.”’ 

**What have you seen?’’ Lasked. 

‘‘Jesus in the desert; and when I remember 
him there, I shall forget to smile more.’’ 

**You found him, then?’’ I eagerly asked. 

**Yes, after days of painful search. I found 


138 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


him in the very center of the desert of Ashes, 
where foot of man had never trod before. I saw 
him upon his knees, and heard his voice in 
prayer. I laid down the sack of bread and 
fishes, and the skin of water I had brought with 
me to succor him, and with awe drew near where 
He stood. ’”’ | 

‘“How did you find him there?’’ I asked, with 
that painful interest which exacts all details. 

‘‘By his footsteps in the sand and ashes. I 
saw where He sat down to rest, and where two 
nights He reposed upon the ground. | I expected 
to find him perished, but each day I discovered 
his progressing footsteps and followed them. As 
I now drew near him, I heard him groan in 
spirit, and He seemed to be borne down to the 
earth by some mortal agony. He seemed to be 
talking to some invisible evil beings who assailed 
him. 

*< ‘Master, good Master,’ I said, ‘I have brought 
thee food and water. Pardon me if I have in- 
truded upon thy awful loneliness, which is sacred 
to some deep grief; but I weep with thee for thy 
woes, and in all thy afflictions I am afflicted. 
Kat, that thou mayest have strength to endure 
thy mysterious sufferings.’ 

‘He turned his pale countenance full upon me, 
and extended toward ma his emaciated hands, 
while He smiled faintly. and blessed me and 
said: 

** “Son, thou art very dear tome. Thou shalt 
one day be afflicted for me, but not now, and 
understand wherefore I am now a sufferer in the 
desert.’ 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 139 


** ‘Let me remain with thee, Divine Messias,’ I 
said. 

***Thou believest, then, that I am He?’ he 
answered, regarding me with love. . 

**T replied by casting myself at his desert- 
parched feet, and bathing them with my tears. 
He raised me, and said, ‘Go thy way presently. 
When the time of my fasting and temptation is 
past, I will see thee again.’ 

** “Nay, I will not leave thee,’ I asserted. 

‘* ‘Tf thou lovest me, John, thou wilt obey me,’ 
he answered, with a tone of gentle reproof. 

***But thou wilt first eat of the bread I have 
brought, and drink of the water,’ I entreated. 

** “Thou knowest not what temptation thou art 
offering to me,’ he replied sadly. ‘Thou hast 
not enough for thine own needs. Go, and leave 
me to gain the victory over Satan, for which I 
was led by the Spirit thither!’ 

*‘T once more cast myself at his feet, and He 
lifted me up, kissed me, and sent me away. You 
would not have known him. Worn to a skeleton 
by long abstinence, weak through suffering, He 
looked but the shadow of himself. He could not 
have lived if there had not been a divine power 
within to sustain him. His existence so long, 
for He had been at the desert five weeks without 
food when I found him, was a miracle, proving 
the power of God to be in him!”’ 

“For what mighty work among men is God 
preparing him?’’ said Rabbi Amos, with emo- 
tion. ‘‘Surely He is a Prophet come from God.’’ 

‘“Think you He is still alive?’’ I asked, with 
anxious fears. 


140 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


**Yes,’’ answered John; ‘‘I am come to tell 
you He was sustained through all, and after forty 
days He came forth from the wilderness, and sud- 
denly presented himself on the banks of Jordan, 
among John’s disciples. I was standing near 
John, discoursing of the Christ, and marveling 
when his exile to the desert would terminate, 
when the Prophet, lifting up his eyes, cried with 
a loud voice full of joy: 

** ‘Behold the Lamb of God, upon whom the 
Spirit descended! He hath come forth from the 
furnace, like gold seven times tried in the fire! 
He it is who taketh away the sins of the world.’ 

‘‘T turned, and beheld Jesus advancing. He 
was pale, and wore an expression of gentle, un- 
complaining suffering on his benign counte- 
nance. His calm, chastened, dignified aspect, 
the serene composure and peace of his looks, 
awed me, while they caused me to love him. I 
hastened to meet him, and was kneeling in joy at 
his feet, when He embraced me as a brother, and 
said, ‘Faithful, and full of love, wilt thou follow 
me?’ 

‘**Withersoever thou goest,’ I answered. 
‘Where dwellest thou, Divine Master?’ then 
asked one of John’s disciples, Andrew by name, 
who was with me. 

““ ‘Come and see,’ he answered; and we went 
after him with joy unutterable that we had at 
length found him.’’ 

‘“What passed between him and the Baptizer,’”’ 
asked Rabbi Amos, ‘‘at the river side on this 
meeting ?”’ 

“Not a word. They met and parted like 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 141 


strangers, John going away across Jordan into 
the wilderness, as Jesus entered the village of 
Bethabara; and approaching the house of a 
widow, where he abode, He went in and we fol- 
lowed him, and took up our abode with him. 
Oh, how shall I be able to make known by 
words,’’ added John, ‘‘the sweet expression of 
his discourse? In one day, in his presence, I 
grew wise; his words filled the soul hke new 
wine, and made the heart glad. The next day 
He wished to go into Galilee, and so to Nazareth, 
where his mother dwelleth; and as I had made 
up my mind to follow him as his disciple hence- 
forth, I have only come hither to make knewn 
my purpose to Mary, to arrange my affairs in the 
city. ‘lo-morrow I leave again, to join this, my 
dear Lord, at Cana of Galilee.’’ 

*““Oh, happy, and to be envied, friend and 
brother,’’ said Lazarus. How gladly would I go 
also and be one of his disciples! but the care of 
my mother and sisters cometh upon me, and I 
must deny myself the happiness of being ever 
near this divine man, and listening to the 
heavenly wisdom that flows from his lips. How 
blind I have been not to have discovered, under 
his gentle and loving character and unobtrusive 
wisdom, the Messias. ‘Truly, he was among us, 
and we knew him not.’’ 

‘*Canst thou divine at all his purpose?’’ asked 
Rabbi Amos of John, ‘‘whether he intends to 
found a school of wisdom, to preach like the 
prophets, to reign like David, or to conquer like 
his warrior namesake, Joshua!’’ 

**I know not, save that he said he came to 


142 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


redeem that which was lost, and to establish a 
{?? 


kingdom that shall have no end! 

Upon hearing this, all. our hearts bounded with 
hope and confidence in him, and we altogether 
burst forth into a voice of thanksgiving, and 
sang this hymn of praise: 


‘*O sing unto the Lord a new song: for He hath done 
marvelous things: his right hand and his holy arm hath 
gotten the victory. 

“The Lord hath made known his salvation: his right- 
eousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. 

** He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward 
the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the 
salvation of our God. 

‘“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make 
a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing his praise. 

“Sing unto the Lord with the harp: with the harp, and 
the voice of a psalm. 

‘‘With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful 
noise before the Lord, the King. 

“‘Let the sea roar, and the fullness thereof; the world, 
and they that dwell therein. 

‘* Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful 
together. 

‘Before the Lord; for He cometh to judge the earth: 
with righteousness ‘shall He judge the world, and the 
people with equity:” 


There was this morning no little excitement 
produced among the Chief Priests by a formal 
inquiry sent by Pilate to Caiaphas the High 
Priest, asking whether this new prophet was to 
be acknowledged by them as their Messiah, ‘‘for 
if he is to be, it will be my duty,’’ said the gov- 
ernor, ‘‘to place him under arrest, inasmuch as 
we understand the Jewish Messias is to declare 
himself king!’’ Upon this, there was a tumultu- 
ous assembling together of the priests in the 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 143 


porch of the Temple, and with many invectives 
they agreed to send answer to Pilate that they 
did not acknowledge Jesus of Nazareth to be the 
Christ. They were led to this the more urgently, 
inasmuch as they feared an arrest of Jesus would 
give the Romans occasion for arresting other 
Jews, and so bring on the nation great troubles; 
just as, a few years ago, when a certain impostor 
rose up and called himself the Christ, the Romans 
were not satisfied with taking and destroying 
him, but they punished with fines every city in 
Judah. ‘Therefore the priests both denied to the 
Procurator any knowledge of Jesus, and entreated 
him not te pay any attention to him, till indeed 
he shoul find that he openly took the lead of 
armed m#u. What Pilate will conclude to do, I 
know net. Rabbi Amos informed us that the 
Procurstor had got some news by a courier that 
mornirg, that Jesus, on his way to Cana, had 
been “ollowed by full a thousand people, who, 
havirg recognized him as having seen him bap- 
tized of John in Jordan, hailed him as the Christ. 

Thus, you see my dear father, that this divine 
percon is already taking hold of the hearts of the 
people, and arousing the jealousy of our enemies. 
Be assured that the day will come when He will 
lift up his standard to the Gentiles, and draw all 
men unto Him. The developments of his power 
are daily taking place; and although He has yet 
performed no such miracle as would be deemed 
by you a test of his divine mission, yet Ihave no 
doubt that in due time He will give this proof, 
end all other needful manifestations, that He is 
the Christ of God. 

Your loving, ADINA. 


144 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


LETTER XII. 


My Dear Farner: I have received your last 
letter by the Cairo merchant, Heber, the son of 
Malchial, and having read it to Rabbi Amos, he 
said, after careful reflection thereupon, that he 
could not agree with you in your opinion touch- 
ing the undimmed glory of Messiah, viz: ‘‘that 
he is to come as a King, and Mighty Leader of 
Hosts, and reign and prosper, and rule the earth, 
King of the kings of the earth.’’ He desires me 
to ask you what is meant by ‘‘Messias being a 
man of sorrows and acquainted with grief,’’ as 
prophesied of him; and how you interpret, dear 
father, other than as referring to a violent end, 
the words of the wise Daniel, ‘‘And after three- 
score and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but 
not for himself?’’ Uncle also desires me to ask 
you to examine into the time named by Daniel, 
when Messiah the Prince is to come, and take 
note that we live in the day of the close of the 
threescore and two weeks, whereof the prophet 
writeth and saith, ‘‘ Know, therefore, and under- 
stand, thatfrom the going forth of the command- 
ment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto 
Messiah the Prince, shall be seven weeks and 
threescore and two weeks.’’ Rabbi Amos says, 
the time for the appearing of Christ is come, as 
all must confess who read the Prophets; and the 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 145 


only reason that Jesus is not believed to be he, is 
that he comes in poverty and humility, fast- 
ing and suffering. But, my dear father, may it 
not be ordained that He shall come in lowliness 
and end in power? Oh, that you could have the 
faith in Jesus of Nazareth, that He is Messias, 
that I have, dearest and most honored father! 
Since I last wrote you, my faith has been con- 
firmed by the testimony which in one of your 
letters you demanded. You said, ‘‘let me hear 
that he has done an authentic miracle in attesta- 
tion of the divinity of his mission, such a miracle 
as was prophesied Messias shall do, as healing 
the sick by a word, restoring the blind to sight, 
and raising the dead, and I will prepare to 
believe in him.”’ 

A miracle He has performed, dear father, and 
one the genuineness of which is not disputed by 
any one. Ican give you the particulars best by 
extracting from a letter written by John to Mary, 
afew days after his departure to join Jesus at 
Nazareth; for John has joined himself to him, 
and become his disciple. 

‘‘Upon reaching Nazareth,’’ says the letter, ‘‘I 
was guided to the humble dwelling occupied by 
the mother of Jesus, by a large concourse of peo- 
ple gathered about it, of whom inquiring, I 
learned that it was to see the new Prophet they 
had assembled. ‘What new prophet?’ I asked, 
wishing to know what the multitude thought of 
Jesus. 

** “The One John of the wilderness foretold,’ 
answered one. 

** *They say he is Messias,’ replied another. 


146 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


** ‘He is the Christ,’ boldly asserted a third. 

‘*‘Hereupon, a Levite standing by said scorn: 
fully, ‘Does Christ come out of Galilee? You 
read the prophets to little purpose, if you see 
therein any Christ prophesied to come out of 
Nazareth of Galilee.’ Hereupon, seeing the faith 
of many staggered, I said, ‘Brethren, Christ is 
truly of Bethlehem; and verily Jesus, though He 
dwelleth in this place, was born in Bethlehem.’ 
‘Thou canst not prove it, man,’ said the Le ite, 
angrily. ‘The stranger speaketh truly.’ spoke 
up both an old man and a gray-haired woman in 
the crowd; ‘we know that ke was not born here, 
and that when his parents moved here, when he 
was an infant, they then said he was born in 
Bethlehem. We all remember this well.’ 

‘“Hereupon, the Levite, seeing that he had not 
the people with him, passed on his way, while I 
went to the door of the house where Jesus dwelt 
with his mother. There were two doors, one of 
which led into a workshop, where I noticed the 
bench and tools of the occupation at which he 
had toiled to support himself and his mother. 
This sight made me half-question whether he who 
was an humble artisan, whose tools and shop I 
saw before me, could in truth be the Christ of 
God, the Prince Messias whom all the patriarchs 
and prophets looked forward to with the eye of 
faith, desiring to see his day! and it required 
the recalling of the wonderful scenes of his bap- 
tism, the holy dove and voice of God, and his 
miraculous preservation in the wilderness, to 
revive my assurance; but when, as I entered the 
dwelling, I saw him standing, teaching those who 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 147 


hung on his lips, and listened to his calm voice, 
and heard the sublime wisdom of his instruc- 
tions, beheld the dignity of his aspect, and the 
heavenly benignity of his manner, I forgot the 
carpenter, I forgot the man, and seemed to 
behold in Him only Messiah the Prince, the Son 
of God. 

‘Upon beholding me, he extended his hand, 
and received me graciously, and said, pointing 
to five men who stood near him, regarding him 
with mingled love and reverence, ‘These are thy 
brethren, who have also come out of the world to 
follow me.’ 

“Of these, one was Andrew, who was, as well 
as myself, John’s disciple, and we were talking 
with him when Jesus came forth out. of the wil- 
derness. Another was Andrew’s brother, whose 
name is Simon, who hearing his brother speak of 
Jesus as the Christ, had gone with him .to see 
him; and had no sooner beheld him than he 
joined himself to him; and Jesus, from the firm- 
ness and immovable zeal of his character, which 
He seemed to understand, called him also Peter, 
or Stone. The fourth disciple was of Bethsaida, 
the city of Andrew and Peter. His name was 
Philip, and he followed Jesus from having been 
prepared by John the Baptist to receive him. 
He was, however, so overjoyed at finding the 
Christ, that he ran to the house of his brother 
Nathaniel, and finding him in his garden, beneath 
a fig tree, at prayer, exclaimed, ‘We have found 
Him of whom Moses in the law and the prophets 
did write, the Messias of God!’ ‘Where is He, 
that I may behold Him?’ asked his brother, ris- 


148 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


ing. ‘It is Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph,’ 
Philip answered. Upon hearing this answer, 
the countenance of Nathaniel fell, and he replied, 
‘Can there any good thing come out of Naza- 
reth?’ ‘Come thou and see for thyself,’ answered 
Philip. Nathaniel then went with him where 
Jesus was. When Jesus saw him approaching, 
He said to those about him, ‘Behold an Israelite, 
indeed, in whom there is no guile!’ ‘Whence 
knowest thou me?’ asked Nathaniel, with sur- 
prise, for he had heard the words which were 
spoken. Jesus answered, and said, ‘Before 
Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig 
tree, I saw thee.’ Upon hearing this, Nathaniel, 
who knew that he was all alone in his garden, 
and unseen at prayer, when his brother came, 
regarded the serene face of Jesus steadfastly, and 
then, as if he beheld therein the expression of 
divinity, he cried before all the people, ‘Rabbi, 
Thou art the Son of God! Thou art the King of 
Israel!’ Jesus looked upon him as if pleased at 
his confession, and said, ‘Because I said unto 
thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest 
thou? Thou shalt see greater things than these. 
Verily, verily, I say unto you, hereafter ye shall 
see heaven open, and the angels ot God ascend- 
ing and descending upon the Son of Man.’ 
“These four, Andrew and Peter, Philip and 
Nathaniel, were then present in the house with 
him; and, to my surprise and joy, with them 
stood my own brother James, whom Jesus had 
seen on the lake in his boat, and called him, 
when James left all and followed him. Thus we 
were six disciples in all, bound to him by ties of 


PRiNCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 149 


eonfidence and love. The mother of Jesus, a noble 
and matronly woman, still beautiful, and with 
a face of the holiest serenity, was present, and 
gazed with love and tenderness upon her Son, 
listening to his words, as if she also would learn 
of him that wisdom which hath descended upon 
him from above. The next day James and I 
went to the sea of Tiberias, but two hours dis- 
tant, to see our father Zebedee, and transfer our 
interests to him; and, during the afternoon, 
Jesus passed near the shore on his way to Cana, 
when, calling us, we left our ships with our 
father and joined him. His mother and many 
of her kinsfolk were of the company, all going to 
@ marriage of the cousin of the family. Upon 
our arrival at Cana we were ushered into the 
guest-chamber, and Jesus, in particular, was re- 
ceived with marked respect by the Hebrew master 
of the house though he was an officer in the serv- 
ice of the Romans. We here met Elizabeth, the 
mother of John the Baptizer, who is a relative: of 
Mary, the mother of Jesus. The meeting 
between them was very touching. 

** “Ah,” said the mother of the prophet, as she 
looked upon Jesus, who was talking with the 
governor of the feast, ‘how blessed art thou, O 
Mary, to have thy son ever with thee! whileI am 
@ mother, and yet no mother. The son whom 
God gave me He hath taken from me to be his 
prophet, and he is to me as if he were dead! 
Since his twelfth year he has been in the wilder- 
ness, knowing no man, until six months ago he 
oe forth to proclaim the advent of thy holy 

on 


150 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


‘‘The marriage feast at length commenced 
The wine which should have come from Damas- 
cus had not arrived, the caravan having been 
delayed by the insurrection near Cesarea. ‘The 
guests had therefore but little wine, and the 
chief ruler of the town presiding at the feast, 
seeing that the wine had given out, bade the 
servants to place more upon the board. The 
mother of Jesus, who knew that the wine was out, 
turning to him, said, ‘They have no wine!’ for it 
seems that she knew the power that was within 
him, though he had not yet manifested it openly. 
I sat next to him, and heard her when she whis- 
pered to Jesus. He looked grave, and said with 
a slight tone of respectful reproof, and applying 
to her that title which we in Judea believe most 
honorable of all others, ‘Woman,’ he said, ‘what 
have I to do with thy private requests for the 
exercise of my power? You wish me to perform 
a miracle before this noble company, that they 
may behold and believe on me. Mine hour for 
manifesting my glory to men is not yet come, 
nevertheless, in obedience to thy wish, my 
honored mother, I will do what thou desirest me 
to do.’ 

‘‘She then thanked him with deep emotion, 
and turned to the servants and beckoned to them, 
while her cheek borrowed a rich color from her 
hidden joy, and her eyes kindled with the feel- 
ings of a mother about to see her son display 
powers such as only come by the gift of God, 
and which were to seal Him as a Prophet, before 
the eyes of Jew and Gentile. For myself, Mary, 
not anticipating, or suspecting what was to take 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 151 


place, I regarded the nervous emotions of the 
joyful mother with marvel. When two or three 
of the servants approached, she said to them: 

** “Whatsoever He saith to you, do it.’ 

‘““They then fixed their regards upon him, 
awaiting his commands, as little suspecting what 
they would be as I did. ‘The face of Jesus, ever 
calm and dignified, now seemed to express a cer- 
tain consciousness of power within that awed 
me. Casting his eyes upon several stvuwe vases, 
which stood by the door empty, he said to them: 

** *F ill the waterpots with water.’ 

*<TIn the court, in full sight from the table, was 
a well, to which the servants went with jars, 
which I saw them fill with water, bear in upon 
their heads, and pour it out into the waterpots, 
until they had filled them all, six in number. 
While this was going on the governor of the 
feast was relating to the guests, and fixing their 
attention, as well as his own, how Herod and 
Pontius Pilate had recently become enemies, 
because the latter, on his way from Cesarea 
Philippi to Jerusalem, to be present with his 
forces during the weeks of the Passover, having 
come to a caravanserai, at night, which was oc- 
cupied by Herod and his bodyguard, turned 
them out to make room for his own, saying that 
a Roman Procurator was more honorable than a 
Jewish King of Galilee. ‘It will be long,’ added 
the governor, as the last waterpot was filled, 
‘before this quarrel will be made up between 
them. But we talk, my friends, and forget our 
wine.’ 

** “Draw out now, and bear unto the governor 
of the feast,’ said Jesus to the servants. 


152 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID, 


“They obeyed, and pouring rich, blood-red 
wine from the jars which I and others had seen 
filled up with water from the well, the amazed 
servants bore it to the chief of the feast. Hehad 
no sooner filled his goblet and tasted it than he 
called to the bridegroom, who sat in the middle 
of the table, and said: 

** ‘Every man at the beginning doth set forth 
good wine, and when men have well drunk, then 
that which is worse, but thou hast kept the good 
wine until now.’ 

‘* “Who hath brought this wine?’ asked the 
bridegroom, drinking of the water that was made 
wine. ‘Whence it came, sir, I know not.’ 

‘Then the servants and others told that they 
had filled the six waterpots with water to the 
brim, at the command of Jesus, and that when 
they drew out, behold it flowed forth wine 
instead of water. Upon this there was a general 
exclamation of surprise; and the governor of the 
feast crying out, ‘A Prophet hath been among us, 
and we knew it not,’ rose to approach and do 
honor to Jesus; but he had already conveyed 
himself away, rising and passing out through the 
door, and sought the solitude of the garden. 
Thither I followed him, and worshiping him, 
sat at his feet and listened to him while he un- 
folded to me wonderful things concerning him- 
self, showing that he is truly the Son of God, 
and the very Christ. But these things I cannot 
speak to thee of now, for I do not clearly under- 
stand all that he is to be, save that I know he is 
destined to suffer, and to be exalted. Doubt 
not,’’ concludes the letter to Mary, ‘‘doubt not 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 153 


that Jesus is the Christ. His miracle at Cana, of 
turning water into wine, is a public display of 
his divine power. All men at the feast have be- 
lieved on Him, and his fame is spreading abroad 
throughout Galilee and Samaria. He has told 
me privately that he must soon visit Jerusalem, 
and he will there openly proclaim his mission as 
the Christ of God.’’ 

In this manner, my dear father, writes the 
betrothed husband of my Cousin Mary; and I 
have given you the extract from his letter in 
order that you may see that Jesus is already at- 
tracting great attention, that he has disciples, 
and that he is by no means poor who has tke 
power to convert wells of waterinto wine. From 
this letter you must perceive that Jesus is at 
least a Prophet equal to Elijah, who kept full 
the cruse of the widow of Zarephath. If, there- 
fore, you acknowledge this much, you must con- 
fess that he isa good man. Now, a good man 
will not lie. Yet Jesus hath said to John that 
He is the Christ! How, then, my dear father, 
can any one deny, who believes him to be a 
prophet, that he is more than a prophet, even 
Messias? Pardon your daughter for thus pre- 
suming to reason with you, but 1am so earnest 
that you should believe that I sometimes forget 
the daughter in the disciple of Jesus. Asformy 
uncle, the good and learned Rabbi Amos, he is 
more than half his disciple; and I have no doubt 
that when Jesus shall present himself in Jerusa- 
lem, and he can see him and hear his divine 
teachings, he will cast off all prejudice and 
become his follower. 


154 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


The rumor of the miracle at Cana has reached 
Jerusalem since I began this letter, and I hear 
that it has produced no little excitement in the 
market-places and courts of the Temple. Rabbi 
Amos, on his return from sacrifice, a few minutes 
ago, said that he saw more than thirty priests 
with rolls of the Prophets in their hands, engaged 
in looking up the prophecies of Christ. So, my 
dear father, you see that the young man ‘‘who 
came,’’ as you remarked, ‘‘no one knew whence, 
and went, no one knew whither,’’ is already tak- 
ing hcid of the attention of Israel, and stirring 
up the minds of all men to investigate his claims 
to be the Christ. 

Your affectionate daughter, 
ADINA. 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID, 155 


LETTER XIV. 


My Dear Farner: You will not require the tes. 
timony of my letters to enable you to appreciate 
the fame of the wonderful young man of Nazareth, 
Jesus, who is daily proving himself a Prophet 
indeed, and mighty before God, showing all tha 
people that God is with Him. Not a stranger 
cometh into Jerusalem who does not bring report 
of some new miracle which He hath done, soma 
wonderful manifestation of his power. He still 
delays coming to Jerusalem, but is engaged in 
preaching the coming of the kingdom of David 
and of God on earth, teaching in the synagogues, 
and showing from the Prophets that He is truly 
the Messias. And his fame for wisdom, for 
knowledge of the Scriptures, for power to teach, 
and for miracles, has gone abroad through all 
Syria, so that they bring to him sick persons, 
both rich and poor, even from Damascus, to be 
healed of him; and he heals all who are brought 
unto him, whether possessed of devils, lunatic, 
or having the palsy. His footsteps are attended 
by thousands wheresoever he goes, and even the 
Governor of Philippi, in his chariot, hath 
mingled in the throng, and kneeling at his feet, 
asked the health of his son, who was paisied ; 
and his son was healed by him by a word, 
though many leagues distant. While I now 


156 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


write, a company is passing by the open window, 
bearing upon beds two wealthy men of Jerusa- 
lem who have been given over by their physi- 
cians, who are going to him to be cured; for all 
Jerusalem talks of nothing else than the wonder- 
ful miracles of Christ. There was a man who 
wove baskets, who has occupied a stall opposite 
our house for many years. He had lost entirely 
the use of his legs for twelve years, and had to 
be carried to and fro. Hearing of the fame of 
Jesus, he was seized with a strong desire to have 
him perform a miracle upon him. For this pur- 
pose, he begged money from the priests as they 
went by to the Temple, but though some gave, all 
laughed, saying that he could not be cured, inas- 
much as one of his limbs was withered. But the 
man had faith, and having begged money enough 
for his journey from the benevolent, hired two 
men to convey him five days’ journey into Gali- 
lee. At the end of three weeks he returned, 
walking upright, and well in body and limbs! All 
the city flocked to behold him; and he related 
now that when he had reached Capernaum, where 
Jesus was, the crowd was so great that his bear- 
ers could not for some time get near him. At 
length Jesus moved on, healing the files of sick 
as he passed through them, at a word. ‘‘Seeing 
me,’’ said the man, ‘‘he fixed his eyes upon me, 
and said, calling me by name: 

‘* ‘Great is thy faith. As thou hast believed, 
be it done unto thee.’ 

‘“‘Immediately my legs and ankle-bones re- 
ceived strength; I leaped from the litter to the 
ground, and found that I was whole, without 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 157 


pain or illness. I would have fallen at his feet 
in ectasy of joy, but the crowds which pressed 
him separated me from the sight of him. ButlI 
filled the air with shouts and hallelujahs to the 
Son of David!’’ 

This man, my dear father, I now see daily, 
moving about sound in limb and health; but this 
one instance is but one of a thousand. John, 
who follows Jesus everywhere he goes, and is a 
witness of all that he does and teaches, writes to 
Mary that ‘‘the sick and afflicted from all parts 
of the land of Galilee, from Decapolis, from Jeru- 
salem, from beyond Jordan, even from Lesser 
Asia, come to him. When my beloved master,’’ 
he writes, ‘‘comes forth from a synagogue, where 
he has been reading the Prophets to the people, 
who hear him gladly, I have beheld two hundred 
persons—the lame, the palsied, the withered, the 
blind, the possessed of devils, and persons 
afflicted with all manner of diseases, laid in rows 
before the gate of the synagogue, awaiting his 
coming forth. Those who bore them were stand- 
ing in eager expectant groups near them. It was 
a painful, vet sublime spectacle, to behold the 
hollow eyes of those wretched sufferers, turned 
toward the door as the people came running 
forth, shouting, ‘He comes! He comes!’ The 
writhing torments of the possessed with devils 
ceased for the moment, and groans gave way to 
expecting silence. Jesus at length appears, and 
upon seeing his face, that ever expresses holy 
benignity and innate power, they set up touch- 
ing cries of the most thrilling appeal for his aid, 
and such appeals are never uttered in vain. 


158 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


Going through the rows of beds and litters, He 
lays his hand upon some, speaks a word ta 
others, touches the eyes of the blind and the ears 
of the deaf, lays his hand gently upon the head 
of the lunatic, and commands in tones of author- 
ity the devils to leave the bodies of the possessed. 
And what is extraordinary,’’ continues John, the 
devils always conduct with more terrific violence 
as he draws near, and while they leave the man 
with curses, they confess loudly that Jesus is 
‘the Son of David—the Son of God!’ and implore 
him, in the most abject manner, not utterly to 
destroy them. So great is the multitude which 
everywhere follows him, that he is often com- 
pelled to withdraw from them by stealth, to get 
to some byplace of quiet where he can refresh 
his wearied strength for a few days. At such 
times we, who are his immediate followers, have 
the benefit of his teaching and private instruc- 
tions. But he cannot remain long away from the 
people. They soon penetrate his retirement, and 
he never can refuse their appeals to his miracu- 
lous powers to do them good. How wonderful is 
He who thus holds in his hand divine power! 
The power of kings is nothing before that which 
he possesses in his voice; yet he is serene, hum- 
ble, oh, how humble! to our shame, and always 
calm and gentle. He spends much time in pri- 
vate prayer to God, whom he always addresses as 
his Father. Never was such a man on earth. 
We who know him most intimately stand most in 
awe of him; yet with our deep reverence for his 
holy character is combined the purest affection. 
In one and the same breath I feel that I adore 


>RINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 159 


him as my Lord, and love him even as my 
brother. So we allfeel toward him. His engag- 
ing manners, his patience with our ignorance, his 
forbearance with our grossness, his ready excuses 
for us when we are in fault, ere we have time to 
exculpate ourselves, all have bound us to him 
with ties that can never be sundered. When [ 
next write to you,’’ continues John, ‘‘I will relate 
to you, so far as they are understood by me and 
my fellow-disciples, the things which he reveals 
respecting himself and the object of his mission 
on earth. Some things, however, are not com- 
prehended by us, but he promises that we shall 
by and by understand what now appears obscure 
to us.’”’ 

Such, my dear father, is the tenor of the letters 
which my Cousin Mary receives from John, the 
disciple of Jesus. They are all filled with ac- 
counts of his miracles, of his teachings, and of 
his journeyings. When we shall see Jesus at 
Jerusalem I shall be able from personal observa- 
tion to write to you more particularly concerning 
his doctrines and miracles. That He is the 
Christ, thousands now believe; for they asl, 
very naturally, how could he do these things 
unless God were with him? What is also of im- 
portance, it has been proven by the results of the 
examination made by some of the scribes of the 
Temple that he was truly born in Bethlehem, 
and that both his mother Mary, and Joseph her 
husband, are lineally descended of the house of 
David. Moreover, Phineas, the venerable priest, 
whom you know, hath borne testimony to the 
fact that when Jesus was an infant, during the 


160 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


reign of the elder Herod, there arrived in Jerusa- 
iem three eminent princes, men of wisdom and 
rearning. One of these came from Persia; one 
from the Grecian province of Media; and one 
from Arabia, and brought with them gifts of gold 
and spices, and were attended by retinues. 
These three princes reached Jerusalem the same 
day by three different ways, and entered by three 
different gates, each unknowing the other’s 
presence or object till they met in the city before 
Herod’s palace. One represented himself de- 
scended from Shem, another from Japhet, the 
third from Ham! The king hearing that these 
three strangers had arrived in Jerusalem, sent to 
know wherefore they had honored his kingdom 
with a visit. ‘‘They answered,’’ says Phineas, 
as he yesterday related the narrative in the pres- 
ence of Caiaphas, and many of the rulers and 
Pharisees, ‘‘ ‘that they came to do homage to the 
young Prince, who was born king of the Jews.’ 
And when Herod asked what prince they spoke 
of, they answered, ‘we have seen his star in the 
East, and are come to worship him!’ ”’ 

** “How know you the star you have seen indi- 
cates the birth of a Prince of Judea?’ demanded 
King Herod, greatly troubled at what he heard. 

** *It had a motion toward this city,’ they an- 
swered, ‘and we have been led by a heavenly 
impulse to follow it, and lo, it has led us to 
Jerusalem, over which, were it now night, you 
would see it suspended, burning with the glory 
of a planet; and it hath been revealed to us that 
it is the star of the birth of one who is to reign 
King of Judah! Tell us therefore, oh king, where 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 16% 


this august Prince is now to be found, that we 
may worship him!’ 

‘*Hereupon,’’ says Phineas, “‘the king issued 
an edict for all the chief priests and scribes of 
the people to assemble in the council chamber of 
his palace. He then addressed them: 

** “Ye to whom is given the care of the Books 
of the Law and of the Prophets, whose study 
they are, and in whom lies the skill to interpret 
the prophecies, search therein, and tell me truly 
where the Christ is to be born. Behold here 
present these august and wise men who have 
come from afar to do Him homage; nay, more, as 
they aver, to worship Him as God. Let us have 
the courtesy to give them the answer that they 
seek, and let us not be found more ignorant of 
these things than those who dwell in other 
lands!’ 

*‘Several of the Chief Priests then rose and 
said, ‘It is known, oh, king, to all who are Jews, 
and who read the Prophets, that Messias cometh 
of the house of David, of the town of Bethlehem :’ 
for thus it is written by the prophet: ‘And thou 
Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, art not least 
among the Princes of Judah, for out of thee shall 
come a Governor that shall rule my people 
Israel!’ 

“This question being thus decided,’’ continued 
Phineas, ‘‘Herod dismissed the council, and retir- 
ing to his own private room, sent to the three 
princes of the East to inquire of them what time 
the star appeared. And when they had named 
the very day and hour on which they had first 
seen it, he was thereby enabled to arrive at the 


162 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


probable age of the infant. He then said to 
them: 

“«You have my permission, noble strangers, 
to go to Bethlehem, and search for the young 
child; and when ye haye found him, bring me 
word again, that I may come and worship him 
also; for itis but meet that we should pay all 
possible honors to a Prince of our realm, whose 
birth is heralded in so unusual a manner, and to 
worship whom even the East sends forth her wise 
men.’ They then left the presence of Herod, 
and it being dark when they left the palace, they 
were overjoyed to behold the star which they saw 
in the East, going before them. They followed 
it until it left Jerusalem by the Bethlehem gate, 
and it led them on to the town of Bethlehem, and 
stopped above an humble dwelling therein. 
When they were come into the house, they saw a 
ray of the star resting upon the head of an infant 
in the arms of its mother Mary, the wife of 
Joseph. They at once acknowledged and hailed 
him as Prince and King of Israel, and falling 
down worshiped him; and opening their treas- 
ures they presented unto him gold, frankincense, 
and myrrh, gifts that are offered on the altar to 
God alone!’’ 

When Phineas was asked by Caiaphas how he 
knew this fact, he answered that he, himself, 
prompted by curiosity to see the Prince they 
had come to worship, had followed them out of 
the palace of Herod, out of the gate, and even 
into Bethlehem, and witnessed their prostrations 
and offerings to the infant child of Mary. 
‘‘And,’’ he added, ‘‘if this be doubted, there are 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 163 


many Jews now living in Jerusalem, and a cer- 
tain Hebrew captain, now stricken in years, who 
can testify to the slaughter, by Herod’s com- 
mand, of the infants of Bethlehem; for this cap- 
tain Jeremias led on the soldiers. ”’ 

**And wherefore this slaughter?’’ asked Caia- 
phas. ‘‘It is not on record.’’ 

‘*Kings do not record their deeds of violenge,’’ 
answered Phineas. ‘‘Herod kept it hushed up 
when he found that he gained nothing by it but 
hatred. He slew them in order that the infant 
Jesus might be destroyed among them; for the 
three wise men, instead of returning through 
Jerusalem to their own country, and informing 
him where they had found the child, departed by 
another way; and when Herod found that they 
were gone, he became so enraged that he sent 
out a party of troops, under Jeremias their cap- 
tain, who now liveth to testify, ordering them to 
slay every child under two years of age in Beth- 
lehem, hoping, as I have said, to kill the infant 
Jesus among thenumber. Butthe child escaped, 
doubtless by God’s powerful protection; and his 
fame in his manhood this day fills the ears of all 
Israel. The adoration of these three men, who 
were sons of Shem, Ham, and Japhet, represents 
the homage of the whole race of mankind that 
shall yet be paid to Him!”’ 

**Dost thou believe in him also?’’ asked Caia- 
phas, with angry surprise, looking sternly on 
Phineas. 

**I will first see, and hear him speak; and if he 
Peo to me to be Messias, I will gladly worship 

im.”’ 


164 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


‘‘Hereupon,’’ said Rabbi Amos, who gave ms 
the details of the foregoing interview betweer 
Caiaphas and Phineas, ‘“‘there arose a great 
uproar, some crying that Jesus was the Christ, 
and others that Phineas should be stoned to 
death.’’ 

Thus you see, my dear father, how the evi- 
dence increases in value and importance, proving 
Jesus to be the Messiah. His very cradle bears 
testimony to his divine character; and surely do 
his miracles now confirm the pledge given by the 
remarkable circumstances attending his child- 
hood. The captain Jeremias, now a gray-headed 
old soldier, having been called upon, testifies 
that he obeyed such an order of Herod, and that 
it was given within three days after the three 
Princes of the East quitted Jerusalem for Beth- 
lehem. Now, my dear father, let me sum up the 
evidences that Jesus is the Messiah. First, his 
presentation in the Temple, when holy Simeon 
and Anna worshipped and prophesied of him. 
Secondly, the star which led the wise men to 
Bethlehem. Thirdly, their adoration of him in 
his cradle. Fourthly, the testimony of John the 
Baptist. Fifthly, the voice of God at his bap- 
tism. Sixthly, the descent of the Holy Ghost 
upon him in the form of a dove. Seventhly, his 
miracle at Cana of Galilee. And lastly, the glit- 
tering coronet of miracles that now encircles his 
brow, shedding a light and glory upon his path 
that blinds and dazzles the eye steadfastly to 
behold. Tell me, dear father, is not this the 
Christ? Your affectionate and loving 

ADINA. 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 165 


LETTER XV. 


My Dear Farner: The inquiry you made in 
your last letter, ‘‘What hath become of John of 
Jordan, since the fame of Jesus hath so far 
eclipsed his own?’’ I can answer, but with sad- 
ness. Your inquiry seems to infer that he would 
feel envious of the power and the miracles that 
distinguish his Successor. But on the contrary, 
John always plainly declared in his preaching 
that ‘She was not worthy to unloose the shoe 
latchet of Him who was to come after him;’’ and 
he distinctly said many times to all, that ‘‘He to 
whom I bear witness must increase, but I must 
decrease!’ The mission on which John came 
terminated when Jesus came. Soon afterward he 
left the wilderness and entered Jericho, where 
Herod was then dwelling. Here he preached in 
the public places and in the market, and on the 
very steps of the palace, that God’s judgments 
were coming upon the earth, and that men must 
by repentance appease his wrath; and that Christ 
would be the Judge of men! Now while he was 
thus speaking to the people, and the officers and 
soldiers of the Tetrarch’s guard, Herod himself 
came forth upon the balcony to listen, for he had 
heard much of John, and had long a desire to 
hear him. The prophet no sooner beheld him than 
he boldly addressed him, and sternly reproved 


166 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


him for the sin of having married the widow of 
his brother Philip contrary to law. Now Herod, 
it is said, did not show resentment at this plain 
dealing, and inviting the phophet into his hall 
talked much with him, and in parting offered 
him gifts, which John refused to touch. The 
next day he sent for him again to ask him some 
questions touching the Messias whom he 
preached. Now Herodia, when it was reported 
to her how that the prophet had publicly spoken 
against her marriage with Herod, became very 
angry; and when she found that John was still 
favored by her husband, she sent for Herod, and 
said that ‘‘if he would please her he must throw 
the prophet of Jordan into prison.’’ Herod 
would have excused him, asserting that he was a 
man of God; but Herodia only the more vehe- 
mently insisted that he should be cast into prison. 
At length Herod yielded, against his own will, 
and gave orders for the arrest of the prophet, 
who the same night was thrown into the ward of 
the castle. When this intelligence reached the 
followers of John, it created great sorrow; and 
many went to see him and talk with him. But 
he told them they must think of him no longer; 
that his short stay was drawing to its close; but 
that they must turn their eyes toward the Christ 
the Sun of Righteousness, whose rising was unto 
an everlasting day. ‘‘Said I not unto ye,’’ he 
asked of them, ‘‘He must increase and I must 
decrease???’ For some weeks this holy man, 
whose only offense was that he had the courage 
to reprove sin in high places, remained in prison, 
while Herod each day sought to find some excuse 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 167 


for releasing him without displeasing Herodia, of 
whose anger he stood in great fear, he being an 
abject slave to his love for her. At length the 
birthday of Herod arrived, and he conveyed word 
to John that in honor of the day he would send 
and fetch him out of prison, so soon as he should 
obtain the consent of his wife, which he believed 
she would accord to him on such an anniversary. 

Now, after the feast, Philippa, the daughter 
of Herodia and of her former husband Philip, 
came in and danced before Herod; and being 
beautiful in person and full of grace in every 
motion, she so pleased her stepfather that he 
made oath, having drunk much wine with his 
guests, that he would give her whatever she 
would ask, were it the half of his kingdom. Her 
mother then called to her, and whispered to her 
imperatively. 

““Give me,’’ said the maiden, turning toward 
Herod, asking what her mother had commanded, 
*‘the head now of John Baptist in a charger.”’ 

The king no sooner heard this request than he 
turned pale, and said fiercely: 

*“Thy mother hath been tampering with thine 
ears, girl.’’ Herodia, however, betrayed no con- 
fusion, but sat unconcerned. Herod, it is said 
by those who were present, hesitated a long time, 
and at length said: ‘‘Ask half of my kingdom 
and I will give it thee; but let me not shed blood 
on my birthday.’’ 

**Wilt thou falsify thine oath?’’ asked his wife, 
scornfully. 

“For mine oath’s sake, and for these who have 
heard it, I will grant thy desire,’’ he at length 


168 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


answered, with a sigh of regret and self- 
reproach. He then turned to the captain of the 
guard, and commanded him to slay John Baptist 
in prison, and bring presently there his head 
upon a charger. 

At the end of a quarter of an hour, which was 
passed by Herod in great excitement, walking up 
and down the floor, and by his guests in silent 
expectation, the door opened, and the captain of 
the guard entered, followed by the executioner, 
who carried a brazen platter upon which lay the 
gory head of the eloquent forerunner of Christ. 

‘‘Give it to her!’’ cried Herod sternly, waving 
him toward the beautiful but cruel and heartless 
maiden, who stood near the inner door. The 
executioner placed the charger in her hands; 
and, without turning pale, but with a smile of 
triumph, she bore it to her mother, who had 
retired to an inner chamber. It is said that no 
sooner did she behold it than she spat in the 
face, and setting it up before her, reviled it. His 
disciples, when they heard of his death, came to 
Herod and asked the body of John, and taking it 
away, buried it; but when they would have asked 
the head also of Herodia, she answered that 
‘‘she had given it to her dogs to devour!’’ So ter- 
rible can be the revenge of a woman who fears 
not God! 

All the disciples of the murdered prophet then 
went where Jesus was preaching and healing, 
and told him what had been done to John. 
‘“When Jesus heard of the death of John he was 
very sorrowful,’’ writes John, his disciple, to 
Mary, ‘‘and went away into a desert place apart, 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 169 


in order to mourn over the fate of his bold and 
holy forerunner.’’ In the meanwhile, the dis- 
ciples of John Baptist, believing that the murder 
of their prophet was but the first blow of a gen- 
eral slaughter, fled into the deserts, and sought 
Jesus to protect and counsel them. At length he 
found himself surrounded by a great multitude, 
who had fled from the cities, chiefly of John’s 
disciples, beside many who came to hear him 
preach, and be healed of him. The place was a 
desert, and far from any town. Forgetful of all 
else, save following Jesus, they were without 
food. ‘‘Which,’’ says John, writing to Rabbi 
Amos, ‘‘we who were his disciples seeing, sug- 
gested that Jesus should send them away to the 
villages to buy themselves victuals. But Jesus 
answered us and said quietly: 

“< «They need not go away—give ye them to 
eat.” 

‘““And Simon said, ‘Master, where can we get 
bread for so many? ‘Thereis verily here an army - 
to be fed, and we have among us but five loaves 
and two small fishes.’ Upon hearing this, Jesus 
said, ‘It is enough; bring them hither to me.’ 

**We collected the bread and fishes, and I, my- 
self, laid them upon a rock before Jesus. He 
then said to us, ‘Command the multitude to sit: 
down on the grass.” And when they were all 
seated he took the five loaves, and laying his 
hands upon them and upon the two fishes, he 
looked up to heaven and blessed them; and then 
breaking them into fragments, he gave them to 
us his disciples, and bade us distribute to the peo- 
ple. As often as we would return for more, we 


170 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF PA. /ID. 


found the loaves and the fishes undiminishe@, 
and I saw with wonder how when he would break 
off a piece of one of the fishes, or of a loaf, the 
same part would immediately be seen thereon as 
if it had not been separated; and in this manner 
he continued to break and distribute to us for 
nearly an hour, until all ate as much as they 
would, and were filled; and when no one de- 
manded more, and he ceased to break, he com- 
manded us to gather up the fragments which lay 
by his side, which he had piled up about him as 
rapidly as he broke them off, and they were 
twelve baskets full over and above what was 
needed. The number that were thus miracu- 
lously fed was about five thousand men, beside 
nearly an equal number of women and children. 
And this mighty Prophet, who could thus feed 
an army, voluntarily suffered forty days and 
nights the pangs of hunger in the desert! He 
seems both a man in suffering, and a God in 
creating !’’ 

This wonderful miracle, my dear father, is one 
that has too many witnesses to be denied. He 
who could feed five thousand could feed all men! 
Must not He then, whe could feed all mankina, 
be divine? Surely, this must be the Son of God! 
Tf I should mention to you all the miracles which 
have been done by him, I should fill many let- 
ters. Nota day passes that we do not hear of 
some more oxtraordinary exhibition of his power 
than the preceding. Every morning, when men 
meet in the market-places, or in the courts of the 
Temple, the first inquiry is, ‘‘ What new wonder 
has he performed? Have you heard of another 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. Ut 


miracle of this mighty Prophet?’’ Indeed, so 
great is the interest here felt to see Jesus and 
witness his miracles, that where one went to hear 
John preach in the wilderness of Jordan, ten go 
to see Christ in Galilee. The priests alone are 
offended, and speak evil of him through envy. 
They say that he draws off people from the sacri- 
fices; that he is preaching another law than that 
of Moses; that he eats with sinners; that he 
enters the houses of Samaritans; and that he 
loveth Galilee rather than Jerusalem, which they 
contend is an evidence that he is not the Christ 
who was ‘‘to come to the Temple and send forth 
his law from Jerusalem. ’’ 

They even have gone so far as to assert that he 
performs his miracles by magic, and the aid of 
Beelzebub, the prince of the devils. ‘‘If we 
suffer him to take men’s minds as he doth,’’ said 
Caiaphas to Rabbi Amos yesterday, when he 
heard that Jesus had walked on the sea to join 
his disciples in their ship, and stilled a tempest 
with a word, ‘‘the worship in the Temple will be 
at an end, and the sacrifice will cease. He 
draweth all men unto him.”’ 

Herod having, as I have said, slain John, and 
hearing soon after of the fame of Jesus, said to 
Herodia: ‘‘This is John Baptist risen from the 
dead, and therefore do mighty works show forth 
themselves in him.”’ 

**lf he rise from the dead threescore and ten 
times, I will as many times have his head,’’ an- 
swered Herodia; whereupon Herod privately sent 
to Jesus, supposing him to be John Baptist, to 
keep in the parts of Galilee where he was. The 


172 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


Levites and Scribes of the city contend that he is 
Elias, who it is prophesied must come and restore 
all things before Messias. Others believe that 
he is Isaiah, or Jeremiah, raised from the dead; 
and some say one thing, and others another 
thing. They are willing to believe Jesus to be 
everything but that which he is, viz., the true 
Christ, Son of the Highest. 

You have asked, dear father, in your letter, 
‘“Where is Elias, who is to precede Messias, ac- 
cording to the Prophet Malachi?’’ This question 
Jesus himself has answered, says John, when 
some rabbis put it to him. He answered them 
thus: 

‘‘Flias has come already, and ye have done 
unto him whatsoever ye listed. ’’ 

‘“Dost thou speak of John the Baptist?’’ asked . 
those about him, when they heard this. 

‘John came in the spirit and power of Elias, 
and therefore was he thus called by the prophet, ’’ 
was the answer of Jesus. 

I have written to you mainly of the miracles of 
Jesus, dear father, as being evidences conclusive 
of his divine power and authority to teach and 
restore Israel. I have said little of his teaching, 
as I have not yet heard him; but I have heard 
those who have listened to him repeat much that 
he hastaughtthem. Such words of wisdom, such 
pureness of teaching, such holy precepts, and 
divine instruction, never fell from the lips of 
man. Oh, when shall I be so blessed as to hear 
his voice, and hang on the eloquence of his lips! 
I envy all who have heard him speak. 

I did not tell you that beside the six disciples 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 1%3 


whom I have named, he has chosen six others, 
which twelve he keeps near his person as his 
more favored followers, and whom he daily in- 
structs in the doctrines he came down from 
heaven to teach. Of the thousands who never 
weary going from place to place in his train, he 
has selected seventy men, whom he has dis- 
patched by twos into every city and village of 
Judea, commanding them to proclaim the king- 
dom of God as at hand, and that the time when 
men everywhere should repent and turn to God, 
had come. 

Thus you see, my dear father, that the solitary 
and unknown young man, who was baptized not 
@ year since in Jordan, is now wielding more 
infiuence in the land than the Roman Procurator 
Pilate, or Herod. Nay, not many days since, 
after he had fed another multitude by a miracle, 
the people would have made him a king by force; 
but he withdrew from the press, and retired into 
a mountain alone, to escape this honor. There- 
fore, dear father, he is no ambitious leader. His 
kingdom, if he is to be a king, is not to be re- 
ceived as the gift of men. Yet that he will bea 
king is as certain as that he is the Christ; for the 
prophecy says that Messias ‘‘shall sit upon the 
throne of his father David.’? Who can look into 
the future and behold the limit of his glory? 
Already by faith I see him crowned by the same 
mighty God who proclaimed from heaven that he 
was his beloved Son, crowned King of kings and 
Lords of lords; with his throne upon Mount 
Zion, and the nations of the earth tributary to 
his scepter of righteousness, and illimitable 


174 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


dominion. MHeis the Stone cut out of a rock 
without hands, that shall fill the whole earth. 

You may charge me with being enthusiastic, 
my dear father; but if Jesus be the Christ, earth 
has no language that can express the splendor of 
his reign. 

It is now commonly reported that he will be 
here at the Passover. Ishall then behold him, 
and like the wise men, I shall worship him with 
mingled awe and love. I will again write you, 
dear father, after I see and hear him. ‘Till then, 
believe me your affectionate daughter, 

ADINA. 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 175 


LETTER XVI. 


My Dear Farner: While I write, the city is 
agitated like a tumultuous sea. The loud mur- 
murs of the multitudes in the streets, and even in 
the distant market-place, reach my startled ears. 
A cohort of Roman cavalry has just thundered 
past toward the Temple, where the uproar is 
greatest; for a rumor of an insurrection begun 
among the people, has come to Pilate the Procu- 
rator. But this is no insurrection against the 
Roman authority, dear father; alas, our people, 
who were once God’s people and the masters of 
the East, are now too servile and submissive to 
their pagan masters, the Romans, to lift up a 
finger to remove their degrading yoke! Would 
that it were a movement for the liberties of 
Judea! The occasion of the tumult, which seems 
to increase each moment, is an extraordinary act 
of power on the part of the new prophet, Jesus, 
that name become, by means of my pen, so famil- 
iar to you—a name at which, I can say without 
enthusiasm, every knee will yet bow, both of Jew 
and Gentile! I will relate to you the circum- 
stances; for this act of power from him is another 
proof of his divine mission. 

In my last letter, dear father, I stated that it 
was commonly reported that this wonderful man 
would be up to the Passover, and that ali men 


176 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


were talking of the approaching event, and really 
thinking more of his presence here than of the 
Passover itself. Nay, it was said that many who 
would not otherwise be in Jerusalem, would come 
hither in order to see him, and to witness some 
new miracle; and to-day Rabbi Amos says the 
number of strangers in the city is hitherto unpre- 
cedented. 

Yesterday my Cousin John came unexpectedly 
into the hall of the fountain, in the rear of the 
house, where we were all seated in the cool of the 
vines, with which Mary’s taste has covered a wall 
of trellis-work. Uncle Amos was in the act of 
reading to us from the Prophet Jeremiah, a 
phophecy relating to the Messias that is to come 
(nay, that is come, dear father), when John ap- 
peared. Mary’s blushes welcomed him, and 
showed how dear he was to her. Uncle Amos 
embraced and kissed him and seated him by us, 
and called for a slave to bathe his feet, for he was 
dusty and travel-worn. From him we learned 
that his beloved master, Jesus, had reached 
Bethany, and was reposing from his fatigues at 
the hospitable though humble house of Lazarus, 
Mary and Martha. When we heard this, we were 
all very glad; and Uncle Amos particularly 
seemed to experience the deepest satisfaction. 

**If he comes into Jerusalem,’’ said he, warmly, 
‘‘he shall be my guest. Bid him to my roof, O 
John, that my household may be blessed in havy- 
ing a Prophet of God step across its threshold. ’”’ 

““Oh, by all means do not forget to ask him to 
remain through the Passover with us ’’ exclaimed 
Mary, earnestly looking up into the young dis- 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. By dy 


ciple’s face, and laying her hand confidingly 
upon his wrist. 

‘I will tell my beloved Master thy wish, 
Rabbi Amos,’’ answered John. ‘‘Doubtiless, as 
he has no home, nor friends in the city, he will 
remain under your roof.”’ 

**Say not no friends!’’ I exclaimed. ‘‘We are 
all his friends here, and fain would be his dis- 
ciples. ”’ 

‘“What! Rabbi Amos also?’’ cried John, with 
a glance of pleasurable surprise at the venerable 
Priest of God. 

**Yes, Iam ready, after all that I have heard 
and seen, Iam ready to confess him a Prophet 
sent from God.”’ 

‘Yes, he is more than a prophet, O, Rabbi 
Amos!’’ answered John. ‘‘Never prophet did 
the works Jesus does. It seems that all power is 
at his command. If you witnessed what I wit- 
ness daily, as he traverses Judea, you would say 
that he was Jehovah descended to earth in human 
form!’’ 

‘‘Nay, do not blaspheme, young man,’’ said 
Rabbi Amos, with some severity of reproof. 

John bowed his head in reverence to the 
rebuke of the Rabbi, but nevertheless answered 
respectfully and firmly, ‘‘Never man did like 
him. If he be not God in the flesh, he is an 
angel in fiesh invested with divine power.’’ 

*“If he be the Messiah,’’ I said, ‘‘he cannot be 
an angel; for are not the prophecies clear that 
Messias shall be ‘a man of sorrows?’ Is he not 
to be ‘the seed of the woman?’ a man and not an 
angel ?’’ 


178 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


€ 


‘*Yes,’’ answered John, ‘‘you remember well 
the prophecies. I firmly believe Jesus to be the 
Messiah, the Son of God. Yet, what he is more 
than man, what he is less than God, is incompre- 
hensible to me and to my fellow disciples. We 
wonder, love, and adore! At one moment we 
feel like embracing him into our arms as a 
brother dearly beloved; at another, we are ready 
so fall at his feet and worship him! I have seen 
him weep at beholding the miseries of the diseased 
wretches which were dragged into his presence, 
and then with a touch—with a word, heal them: 
and they would stand before him in the purity and 
beauty of health and strong manhood! I have seen 
him with a voice of command, as never man spake, 
expel devils from those who were possessed by 
them; and I have heard the devils submissively 
beg not to be sent to their own place, but to be 
permitted by him to remain roaming still in the 
air and on the earth, until the hour of their final 
sentence shall proceed from the lips of God. 
Even the devils are thus subject unto him, so 
mighty is his power; and all diseases disappear 
before his eye like the foul air of the fens before 
the beams of the morning sun!’’ 

‘‘And yet,’’ said Nicodemus, a rich Pharisee 
who entered as John was first speaking, and 
listened without interrupting, for it is his wont 
to come in and out as he will, being a friend of 
my uncle, ‘‘and yet, young man, I heard you say 
that Jesus, of whom you and all men relate such 
mighty deeds, has remained at Bethany te 
recover from his fatigue. How can a man who 
holds all sickness in his power be subject to mere 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 1%9 


weariness of body? I would say unto him, 
Physician, heal thyself!’’ 

This was spoken with a tone of incredulity by 
his learned ruler of the Jews; and stroking his 
snowy beard, he waited of John a reply; for like 
many of the chief men, nay, most of them, it 
was hard to believe all he heard of Jesus; for as 
yet he had not seen him; nor would he be likely 
to visit him were he to come into the city, in 
order to see for himself, lest his popularity among 
the Jews be diminished; for he is a man of re- 
markable ambition, and aims one day to be the 
chief governor of the people; therefore, though 
he should really be convinced that Jesus is the 
Messias, I fear he would not have candor enough, 
for fear of the Jews, to confess it. Such is my 
opinion of my uncle’s friend, the rich and power- 
ful Pharisee. But John answered him and said: 

**So far as I can learn the character and power 
of Jesus, his power over diseases is not for his 
own good, but for the benefit of the multitude. 
He uses his power to work miracles to do good 
to others from love and compassion, and to show 
forth the divine power in him. His miracles are 
used only as the proofs of his Messiahship. 
Being a man with this divine power dwelling in 
him for us, he is subject to infirmities as a man; 
he hungers, thirsts, wearies, suffers, as a man. 
I have seen him heal a nobleman’s son and restore 
him to strength and activity by a word, and the 
next moment seat himself, supporting his aching 
head upon his hand, looking pale and languid, 
and without strength; for his labors of love are 
vast, and he is often overcome by tkem, those 


180 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


who follow him to be healed not giving him time 
to repose at night. Once, Simon Peter, seeing 
him ready to sink with very weariness, after heal- 
ing all day, asked him and said: ‘Master, thou 
givest strength to others, why suffer thyself, 
when all health and strength are in thee, as in a 
living well, to be weary!’ 

** *¥t is not mine to escape human infirmities 
by any power my Father hath bestowed upon me 
for the good of men. It behooves me to suffer 
all things. ‘Through suffering only can I draw 
all men after me!’ ”’ 

John said this so sadly, as if he were repeating 
the very tones in which Jesus had spoken it, that 
we all remained silent for a few moments. I felt 
tears fill my eyes, and I was glad to see that the 
proud Pharisee, Nicodemus, ‘looked moved. 
After a full minute’s serious pause, he said: 

‘‘This man is doubtless no common prophet. 
When he comes into the city I shall be glad to 
hear from his own mouth his doctrines, and to 
witness some potent miracle.’’ 

‘‘Surely,’’ said Amos, ‘‘if he be in truth a 
prophet, we ought not to reject him. We ought 
to examine fairly his claims to be sent from God 
to our people.”’ 

‘‘Certainly,’’ answered Nicodemus. ‘‘We 
Pharisees are ready to give him a fair hearing. 
It would seem that by coming to Jerusalem from 
the provinces, where hitherto he has been preach- 
ing and doing miracles, he means to challenge 
the whole people to acknowledge him as a 
prophet. ’”’ 

‘““Prophet he is, without doubt,’’ answered 


PRINCE OF THE HOUS® OF DAVID. 181 


Amos. ‘‘Itis not the question now whether he 
be a prophet or not, for the hundreds he has 
healed are living witnesses that he has the spirit 
and power of the old prophets, and is truly a 
prophet. The question that remains is, whether 
he be the Messiah, or not?’’ 

Nicodemus slowly and negatively shook his 
head, and then answered: 

‘*Messias cometh not out of Galilee.’’ 

**He will prove himself to be Messias with 
power,’ answered my Cousin John, with zeal. 
‘“When you hear him speak, Rabbi Nicodemus, 
the grace of his lips, and the depths of his wis- 
dom, will charm you into belief; and without 
miracles you will acknowledge that He is the 
Christ. ’”’ 

At this moment a sudden, wild, joyful cry from 
Mary, thrilled our nerves, and, looking toward 
the door, we saw her folded in the arms of a 
young man whom I had never seen before. My 
surprise had not time to form itself into any defi- 
nite opinion of what I saw, when I beheld the 
young man, who was exceeding handsome, and 
the picture of health, after kissing the clinging 
Mary upon her cheeks, leave her to throw himself 
into the arms of Rabbi Amos, crying: 

*“My father, my dear father!’’ 

My uncle, who had stood amazed, and wonder- 
ingly gazing on him,as if he could not believe what 
his eyes beheld, now burst into profound expres- 
sions of grateful joy, and as he clasped the young 
stranger to his heart, fell upon his neck and 
wept, with scarcely power to articulate the 
words: 


182 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


‘“My son! my son! Lost, but found again! 
This is the Lord’s doing, and is marvelous in our 
eyes.’’ 

John also embraced the newcomer, while the 
Ruler stood silent with wonder. Who the young 
man was whose arrival was producing such emo- 
tion, and why he should be hailed as a son by my 
Uncle Amos, I had noidea; and while I was look- 
ing bewildered upon the scene, Mary ran and 
said to me, with tears of gladness shining in her 
dark fine eyes: 

“It is Benjamin, my lost brother, beloved 
Adina!’’ 

*‘T did not know you had a brother,’’ I an- 
swered in surprise. 

‘“We have long regarded him as dead,’’ she 
replied, with mingled emotions. ‘‘Seven years 
ago he became lunatic, and fled to the tombs 
without the city, where he has long dwelt with 
many others who were possessed with devils. 
For years he has been a madman, and has neither 
spoken to nor known us, and we have tried to 
forget that he lived, since to remember it made 
us miserable, without hope of his restoration. 
But oh, now behold him! It seems a vision! 
See how manly, noble, like himself he is, with 
the same sweet smile and smiling eyes.”’ 

She then fiew to take him by the hand and 
lead him toward me, all eyes being fixed upon 
him, as if he had been a spirit. 

When he saw their wondering gaze, he said: 

‘*TIt is I, both son and brother to those dearest 
to me. Iam in my right mind, and well.”’ 

‘‘Who has effected this change, so extraordi- 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 183 


wary, oh, my son?’’ inquired Rabbi Amos, with 
trembling lips, and keeping his hand on Ben- 
jamin’s shoulder, as if he feared he would vanish 
away. 

**It was Jesus, the Prophet of the Highest,’ 
answered he, with solemn gratitude. 

*‘Jesus!’’ we all exclaimed in one voice. 

**T could have said so,’’ answered Cousin John, 
calmly. ‘‘I needed not to ask who had effected 
this great work upon him. Nicodemus, thou 
knowest this young man well! thou hast known 
him in childhood, and beheld him in the mad- 
ness of his lunacy, among the tombs. Dost thou 
doubt now, whether Jesus be the very Christ ?’’ 

Nicodemus made no reply; but I saw from the 
expression of his face that he believed. 

‘“How was this thing done to thee, young 
man?’’ he asked, with a deep interest and visible 
emotion. 

‘*Il was wandering near Bethany this morn- 
ing,’’ answered the lost and restored one, with 
modesty and feeling, ‘‘when I beheld a crowd 
which I madly followed. As I drew near, I 
beheld in their midst a man, whem I had no 
sooner cast my eyes upon than I felt seize me an 
ungovernable propensity to destroy him. The 
same fury possessed seven others, my comrades 
in madness, and together, with one mind and 
will, we rushed upon him, with great stones and 
knives in our hands. The crowd gave way and 
fell back aghast, and called him to save himself. 
But he moved not, but, left alone in a wide space, 
stood calmly awaiting us. We were within afew 
feet of him, and I was nearest, ready to strike 


184 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


him to the earth, when he quietly lifted one 
finger, and said ‘‘Peace!’’ We stood immovable, 
without power to stir a foot, while our rage and 
hatred increased with our inability to harm him. 
We howled and foamed at the mouth before him, 
for we then knew that He was the Son of God, 
come to destroy us. 

“* “Come out of the men, and depart quickly!’ 
he said, in atone of command as if to us, but 
really to the demons within us. At this word 1 
fell at his feet in a dreadful convulsion, and my 
whole body writhed as if it had been wrestling 
with an invisible demon. Jesus then stooped 
and laid his hand upon my brow, and said, ‘Son, 
arise! ‘Thou are made whole!’ 

**At these words a black cloud seemed to be 
lifted from my mind, and to disappear; the glory 
of anew existence appeared to dawn upon my 
soul, while his voice melted my heart within me. 
Bursting into tears, the first I have shed for seven 
years, I fell at his feet and kissed them, and em- 
braced them, wholly overcome with a new sense 
of peace, and of inward happiness unspeakable. 

*“*Go thy way, and fear God, that thou fall 
not a second time into this captivity to Satan!’ 
he said, raising me to my feet. I then followed 
him, rejoicing and blessing God, until he entered 
the house of a Centurion, near Bethany, when I 
hastened hither, to gladden your hearts with the 
sight of me restored to my right mind.”’ 

When Benjamin had done speaking, we all 
gave glory to God, who had given him back to 
us, and who had sent so great a prophet among 
men. As Nicodemus took his leave, I overheard 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 185 


him, congratulating the happy father, say, that he 
should embrace the first opportunity to have an 
interview with Jesus; and when my uncle told 
him that he hoped to entertain the mighty 
Prophet as his guest, the Ruler desired permis- 
sion to visit him here upon his arrival, ‘‘but 
secretly,’’ I heard him add, in Rabbi Amos’ ear, 
as he took his leave. 

I commenced this letter, dearest father, by an 
allusion to a great commotion which is agitating 
the whole city, and which was caused by an act 
of powcr on the part of the Prophet Jesus, who 
this morning, two hours ago, entered the city, 
and proceeded at once to the Temple, followed 
through the streets by an innumerable multitude, 
such as was never known in Jerusalem before. 
But as I have taken up so much of this letter in 
relating what passed yesterday in the hall of the 
Fountain, I will leave the account of the tumult, 
the voices of which are still to be heard, for my 
next letter, which I shall write this evening; for 
now that all events are so interesting connected 
with the great Prophet, Christ, I shall write to 
you almost daily, that I may keep you advised of 
all things that come to pass, even as you desired 
me to do. This request, dear father, filled me 
with joy. It was an assurance to me that you 
have begun to take an interest in these wonderful 
things concerning Messias, and it leads me 
secretly to hope that you may yet believe in Him, 
and accept Him as the Anointed One of God, 
which without doubt he is, as both his words 
and his mighty works do testify. 

When I get a package of letters made up, I 


186 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


shall send them by Israel Ben Judah, with the 
caravan that leaves eight days after the Passover. 
May the God of our Fathers be with you, and 
bless you, and all the holy people of the Promise. 
Your loving daughter, 
ADINA. 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 187 


LETTER XVII. 


My Drar Farner: The last letter which I sent 
to you, was written during an extraordinary 
tumult which prevailed in the city, an account 
of which I promised to give you in the present 
one. Iwill doso now. When, on the morning 
of the Passover, it was noised abroad that the 
Prophet of Galilee was entering the city by the 
gate of Jericho, the whole city was stirred, and 
from houses and shops poured forth crowds 
which turned their steps in that direction. 
Mary and I went upon the housetop, hoping to 
see something; but far and near was visible only 
asea of heads, from which a deep murmuring 
arose, like the ceaseless voice of the ocean chafing 
upon a rocky shore. The top of the gateway 
was visible from the place where we stood; but it 
was black with the people who had crowded upon 
it to look down. ‘There was heard, at length, an 
immense shout, as of one voice, which was fol- 
lowed by a swaying and onward pressure of the 
crowds. 

‘<The prophet must have entered the gate,”’ 
said my Cousin Mary, breathlessly. ‘‘How they 
do him honor! It is the reception of a king!”’ 

We were in hopes he would pass by our house, 
as we were on one of the chief thoroughfares; 
but were disappointed, as he took the way round 


188 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


the foot of Mount Zion, and ascended the hill of 
Moriah to the Temple. <A part of the ascent to 
the house of the Lord is visible from our roof, 
and we had the satisfaction of seeing the Prophet 
at a distance. We knew him only because he 
was in advance, and the people, while they 
walked near him, yet left him a little space. The 
nighest one to him, Mary said, was her Cousin 
John, though at that distance I could not have 
recognized him; but the eyes of maidenly affec- 
tion, though mild as the dove’s, are as piercing 
as the eagle’s. The head of the multitude disap- 
peared beneath the arch of the Temple, and thou- 
sands upon thousands followed after; and in the 
rear rode the young Roman Centurion, whom I 
have before spoken of, at the head of four hun- 
dred horse to keep order in the vast mass. Mary’ 
could not recognize him, saying it was too far to 
tell who he was; but I knew him not only by his 
air and bearing, but by his scarlet pennon that 
fluttered from his iron lance, and which I had 
bestowed upon him; for he told me he had lost 
one his fair Roman sister, Tullia, had given him, 
and as he so much regretted its loss, I supplied 
its place by another, worked by my own hands. 
As this was an act of kindness only, to astranger, 
dear father, I know you will not disapprove of it; 
though being done for an idolater may not please 
you. But I am full of hope, dear father, that 
- this noble and excellent youth may yet become a 
Jew; for he loves to listen to my teachings from 
the Prophets, and last week he told me that he 
could never weary hearing me read to him from 
the books of Moses, and from the sublime Psalms 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 189 


of King David; which, he says, surpass any 
poems, either in his own tongue or the Greek. 
Thus, by attention and forbearance, I assuredly 
believe that he may be led to renounce his idola- 
trous faith, and become a worshiper of the God 
of Hosts. 

The multitude, as many as could gain admis- 
sion, having entered the great gate of the Temple, 
for a few minutes there was a profound still- 
ness. Mary said: 

‘*He is worshiping or sacrificing now.’”’ 

**Perhaps,’’ I said, ‘‘he is addressing the peo- 
ple, and they listen to his words.’’ 

While I was speaking, there arose from the 
bosom of the Temple a loud, irregular, strange 
outery of a thousand voices, pitched to high 
excitement. The people without the gate re- 
sponded by a universal shout, and then we beheld 
those nighest the walls retreat down the hillside 
in terrified confusion, while, to increase the 
tumult, the Roman horse charged up the hill, 
seeking to penetrate through the masses, to reach 
the gate out of which the people poured like a liy- 
ing and tempest-tossed river, before which he 
head of the cohort recoiled, or was overwhelmed 
and downtrodden! I held my breath in dread- 
ful suspense, not knowing the cause of the fearful 
scene we beheld, nor to what it might lead. 
Mary, who knew both her father, and her cousin 
and betrothed, were exposed to whatsoever danger 
was threatening those who had gone into the 
Temple, became overcome by her apprehensions 
of evil to them, and, burying her face in her 
hands, she sunk down almost insensible by my 


190 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


side. My attention was then drawn to her, away 
from the scene on Mount Moriah, and leading her 
down into the apartments of the house, I saw no . 
more of whatfollowed. But a quarter of an hour 
had not passed when Samuel Ben Azel, who had 
the day before come up from Nain, to the Pass- 
over, with his mother, who is a distant relative 
of Rabbi Amos, entered, and explained to us the 
cause of the scene I had witnessed, assuring 
Mary at the same time of the safety, both of her 
cousin and her father. His account was thus: 
‘‘The Prophet Jesus having entered into the 
Temple with the multitudes following him to see 
what he would do, found all the courts filled with 
merchants, changers of money, and sellers of 
cattle to the sacrificers. Portions of the sacred 
place were divided off by fences, in which thou- 
sands of sheep and cattle were stalled; and be- 
tween almost every two columns of the vast 
portico sat at their tables men whose business it 
was to change the foreign money brought by the 
Jews from Greece, Egypt, Elam, Parthia, and 
Africa, who had come up to the Passover, for 
Jerusalem and Roman coin, which only the sellers 
of the cattle and sheep will receive for what they 
sell. On his way to the inner Temple, the 
Prophet found his path so obstructed by the 
stalls and the tables of the brokers that he had 
to go round them, and often turn back and take 
a less-hedged-up avenue. At length finding, 
upon the very lintel of the Court of the Priests, a 
priest himself engaged at a table as a money- 
changer, and near him a Levite, keeping a stall 
for selling doves and sparrows to the worshipers, 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 191 


he stopped upon the step, and, turning round, 
cast his calm, terrible eye (for it was terrible then, 
mild as it was before) over the scene of noisy 
commerce and bartering. Every face was turned 
toward him in expectation. The half-completed 
bargain was suspended, and buyer and seller 
directed their gaze, as by a sort of fascination 
not unmingled with a strange awe and fear, upon 
him. Those who had crowded about him, drew 
back further and further, slowly but irresistibly 
widening the space between them and him, they 
knew not by what impulse, till he stood alone, 
Save nearest him was John, his disciple. The 
uproar of the buying and selling suddenly sub- 
sided, and even the loud lowing of the cattle, and 
the bleating of the sheep, stopped as if a super- 
natural awe had seized even the brute creation at 
his presence; and only the soft cooing of doves 
stirred the vast, death-like stillness of the place, 
but a moment before a scene of oaths, cries, 
shouts, running to and fro, buying and selling, 
the ringing of money, and the buzz of ten thou- 
sand voices. It was as if a hurricane, sweeping 
with deafening uproar of the elements over the 
lashed ocean, had been suddenly arrested and 
followed by a great calm. The silence was dread- 
ful! It stopped the very beating of my heart. 
Every eye of the vast multitude seemed to fasten 
itself on the Prophet in expectation of some 
dread event. I thought of the world hereafter 
to be assembled before the tribunal of Jehovah, 
awaiting their sentence. The step of the Temple 
upon which he stood seemed to be a throne, and 
the people before him expecting judgment. Sud- 


192 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


denly the silence, which had become oppressive, 
was broken by a young man near me, who gave 
vent to his feelings by a piercing shriek, and fell 
insensible upon the marble fioor. There was a 
general thrill of horror, yet the same awful still- 
ness succeeded this startling interruption. That 
one intense shriek had spoken for us all, given 
expression and outlet to what we all felt. Sud- 
denly the voice of the Prophet was heard, clear, 
authoritative, and ringing like the trumpet that 
shook Sinai when the Law was given, and made 
all the people to quake: 

** “It is written, my Father’s house shall be 
called a House of Prayer! but ye have made it a 
den of thieves!’ 

‘He then picked up from the pavement at his 
feet a small cord, which some one had thrown 
down, and doubling it in the form of a scourge, 
he advanced. Before him fled the changers of 
money, priest, and Levite, sellers of oxen, sellers 
of sheep, and sellers of doves, escaping in such 
haste from the terrible displeasure of his counte- 
nance that they left their property to its fate, 
seeking only their personal safety. 

‘* “Take these things hence,’ he cried, ‘make 
not my Father’s house a house of merchandise!’ 

‘‘Such a scene of confusion and flight was 
never witnessed as now followed! The whole 
mass was in retrograde motion. I was borne 
along withthe current. Money-tables were over- 
turned on all sides; but not the most avaricious 
thought, at that moment, of stopping to gather 
any of the gold and silver which the rushing 
thousands trampled beneath their feet. It was 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 193 


not the whip of small cords before which we fled, 
for he touched no man therewith; but it was from 
his presence! We were driven like chaff before 
him. ‘To the eyes of all, the little whip seemed 
to blaze and flash above their heads, as if it were 
the fiery sword of a destroying angel. Nothing 
but terror, flight, escape, was thought of. Ina 
few moments the Priest’s Court of the Temple 
was cleared of every soul, and we were driven 
across the Court of Israel and the broader Court 
of the Gentiles, toward the south gate. On 
looking back, I saw that the prophet no longer 
pursued, but stood alone, Master and Lord of the 
Temple. The whip was no longer in his hand; 
and his whole attitude and expression of face was 
changed from that of their late terrible power, to 
an air of the profoundest compassion, as he 
looked after us, still flying from his presence. 
‘*Butl had no time to marvel at this extraordi- 
nary change, for the multitude still sought escape, 
and bore me onward, and I lost sight of him. 
At the gate we were met by a cohort of Pilate’s 
cavalry, and pressed backward into the Temple. 
The scene now became appalling. What with 
the Roman spears in front, and the Prophet be- 
hind, the multitude fearing to go either way, 
trod one upon another, trampled the weak under- 
foot, and filled the air with curses, shrieks, and 
horrible outcries of mingled pain, rage and ter- 
ror. HowlTescaped, I know not,’’ added Samuel, 
as he completed his narration, ‘‘but on finding 
myself outside of the gate, I at once, with hun- 
dreds, sought shelter in the city, and happy am 
I to have reached this place of security; for the 


194 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


Romans are scouring the streets, driving all th¢ 
people into their houses.’’ 

When Samuel had ended, and we were wonder- 
ing at this new exhibition of the mighty power 
of the Prophet Jesus, the street in front of our 
dwelling was filled with persons seeking their 
homes. Some cried, ‘‘the terrible Prophet!’’ 
others, ‘‘the Romans!’’ and some, by their out- 
cries, seemed to fly from equal fear of both. In 
the midst of this tumult, dear father, I sat down 
to write you my last letter, while the events were 
fresh, and lest other events should come in and 
crowd these from my mind. 

Ah! my dear father, Jesus of Nazareth must be 
indeed invested with powers divine! He who, 
with a word and a look, for the whip in his hand 
could not, says Rabbi Amos, have hurt a child, 
can thus impel thousands of men before him, 
could make the whole world fly from the terrible 
majesty of his presence! My uncle, Rabbi Amos, 
who on his return from the Temple corroborated 
what Samuel had stated added that as Jesus 
stood alone possessor of the gold-strewn floors of 
the Courts of the Temple the High Priest ad- 
vanced toward him and with awe not unmixed 
with anger demanded of him by what authority 
he did these things, seeing that he took upon 
himself to purify the Temple. 

His answer was ‘‘My Father’s House must not 
be made a house of merchandise. Zeal for the 
glory of His Temple hath caused me to do these 
things.’”’ 

‘*Art thou the Christ?’’ asked the High Priest, 
still standing some distance off from him.’’ 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 195 


‘Tf I tell thee that I am, ye will not believe.’’ 

‘“When Christ shall come he will restore all 
things,’’ answered the High Priest. 

‘““And I have begun this restoration by expell- 
ing from the Temple those who defile it, and 
restoring it to be a House of Prayer, according 
as my Father hath ordained.’’ 

**And who is thy father?’’ asked Caiaphas. 

‘‘God is my Father; and to do His will am I 
sent into the world. I came not of myself, but 
my Father sent me. It is written of me, ‘He 
shall suddenly come to His Temple, and be as a 
purifier and refiner of silver.’ 

‘What sign showest thou that thou art sent, 
and hast authority to do what thou doest here 
to-day within the Temple?’’ 

‘‘Hast thou not had proof of my power from 
heaven,’’ answered Jesus, stretching forth his 
hand toward the still terror-stricken multitude. 
‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will 
raise it up! Be this to you, and all Judea, the 
sign that I am sent by my Father, who is in 
heaven. As He hath given me commandment, 
so I do.”’ 

At this there was a great murmuring, said 
Rabbi Amos, for many of the priests, with Annas 
also, had got boldness, and drew near to hear. 

‘‘He cannot be a just man,’’ said Annas, ‘‘nor 
doth he honor God, if he would have us destroy 
the Temple!”’ 

**Yet if he be not sent of God, whence hath ke 
this power over men?’’ answered another. 

‘*He doeth this by Beelzebub, whose prophet 
he doubtless is,’’ said Annas, in a loud tone, ‘‘for 


196 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


a true prophet would not seek the destruction of 
God’s holy House!”’ 

Thereupon there was a multitude of voices, 
some crying one thing, and some another; but 
the most part asserting their belief that Jesus 
was a just man and divine prophet. Caiaphas at 
length obtained silence, and said to him: 

‘Tell us plainly—Art thou the Christ, the Son 
of the Blessed, that we may believe in Thee?”’ 

*“‘T am!’’ calmly and firmly answered the 
Prophet; and raising his eyes to heaven he 
added impressively, ‘“‘I am come down from 
God!”’ 

When, adds my uncle, Annas heard this, he 
lifted up his voice in an exclamation of horror, 
and, rending his clothes, he cried out: 

‘“Hear ye this blasphemer! Let us cast him 
forth from the Temple which he pollutes!’’ 

But no man dared approach the Prophet, 
whose mighty power had so recently been ex- 
pressed in the expulsion of the merchants and 
buyers from that sacred place. 

‘‘Bear witness,’’ then said he, sorrowfully, 
rather than in anger, ‘‘that I have come unto my 
own, and ye have received me not! This Temple 
of my Father, from which you would drive me 
forth, shall no longer be the dwelling-place and 
altar of Jehovah. The day cometh when your 
priesthood shall be taken away and given to 
others, and among the Gentiles shall arise to my 
Father’s name, on every hill and in every valley 
of the earth, holy temples, wherein he shall delight 
to dwell; and men shall no longer need to wor- 
ship God in Zion, but in all places shall prayer 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 19? 


and praise be offered to the Most High. This 
Temple, which ye have polluted, shall be thrown 
down, till not one stone remaineth standing upon 
another; and ye shall be scattered, because ye 
knew not the time of your visitation ?’’ 

Thus speaking, the Prophet quitted the Temple, 
leaving the High Priest, and priests, and Levites, 
standing gazing after him, without power to utter 
a word. Rabbi Amos, who saw and heard all this, 
says that nothing could have been more striking 
than the contrast presented between the two men, 
the High Priest and Jesus (if it be lawful to call 
him a man, dear father), as they talked with each 
other; the one clothed in magnificent garments, 
with a glittering tirara upon his brows, his port 
lofty and proud, his hair and beard white as 
snow, and his whole appearance majestic and 
splendid with outward richness! the other youth- 
ful, clad in coarse garments, with a gray Galilean 
mantle folded about him, sandals much worn 
upon his feet, and his whole garb mean and coy- 
ered with the dust of his journey on foot from 
Bethany; while the severe sadness of his face, 
which seemed beautifully and touchingly chas- 
tened by prayer and suffering, contrasted strongly 
with the stern, harsh face of Caiaphas, flushed 
with anger and envious hostility. 

‘‘He passed out of the Temple with an even 
pace, neither looking back at his enemies nor fol- 
lowed by them. I beheld John join him, and 
hastened to ask him to invite him to my house to 
sojourn and eat the Passover with me, but he 
disappeared and I lost sight of him. But at the 
gate I encountered a man leaping and singing, 


198 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


whom the Prophet had healed by a touch as he 
passed out, though the man had been paralytic 
for thirty-one years. Thus does this mighty 
person never cease to do good.”’ 

Such, my dear father, is the account given by 
Rabbi Amos of what passed in the Temple. 
That Jesus is the Christ, is now beyond ques- 
tion; for he has openly acknowledged it to the 
High Priest. 

Adieu, dearest father. The servants are bring- 
ing in boughs for the booths, and I must close 
this letter, with prayers to our father’s God for 
your peace and welfare. 


ADINA. 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 199 


LETTER XVIII. 


My Dear Farner: The last letter which I re- 
ceived by the hands of the Roman courier, filled 
me with gratitude, at learning from it your 
recovery. When I heard from Ben Israel of 
your ill health, I felt like flying with the wings 
of a dove to reach your pillow, and administer to 
the comfort of the venerated and loved author of 
my being. The God of our fathers be praised in 
raising you up: and that He may preserve you 
long to me, shall be my daily prayer. 

You say in your letter, dear father, that you 
have read with interest all my letters, and more 
especially those which relate to Jesus of Galilee, 
the mighty Prophet now vouchsafed to Israel. 
You say that you are ready to acknowledge him 
as a prophet sent from God, ‘‘for evidently no 
man could do such great works except God be 
with him.’’ But you add, ‘‘while I am ready, 
my child, to recognize him asa prophet of the 
Lord, Iam far from seeing in him the Messias 
promised to our people! Aside from the lowli- 
ness of his parentage and his humility of condi- 
tion, traveling on foot, and without retinue (while 
Messias is to be a Prince and King), he can have 
no claim to be the Christ, because he comes out 
from Galilee. Doth Messias come out of Galilee? 
Let Rabbi Amos, who seems ready, I perceive, 


200 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


to acknowledge him as the Christ, let him exam- 
ine the writings of the Prophets, and see! Hath 
not the Scripture said that Christ cometh of the 
seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, 
where David was? Search and look, for no 
prophet, much less Messias, cometh out of 
Galilee. ’’ 

To this objection, dear father, also made, I be- 
lieve, in a previous letter, Rabbi Amos desires 
me to say that he has investigated the records of 
births kept in the Temple, and finds, as I have 
before named to you, that Jesus was born in 
Bethlehem. He afterward removed with his 
parents to Egypt, and thence returning to Judea, 
settled in Galilee, where he was brought up. Of 
these facts in his history, not only Rabbi Amos is 
satisfied, but Nicodemus also, whose learning you 
will not gainsay, and the latter, very much to 
our surprise, and my own delight, added yester- 
day, when we were talking over the subject at 
supper, ‘‘there is a prophecy, O, Rabbi Amos, 
which strengthens this mighty Prophet’s claim 
to be the Messiah. ”’ 

‘“What is it? Let me hear all that can 
strengthen!’’ I asked earnestly; not, dear father, 
that my confidence in him needs confirmation, 
but I wish others to believe. 

‘*You will find it in the Prophet Hoseas,’’ an- 
swered Nicodemus, ‘‘and thus it readeth: ‘I 
have called my son out of Egypt.’ These words 
refer to Messias, without question, as say all the 
doctors of the law.”’ 

‘‘Itis a new argument for Jesus, then,’’ an- 
swered Rabbi Amos. 


‘ 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 201 


My heart bounded with joy, dear father, at 
hearing this prophecy named; but judge my 
emotion when Nicodemus, taking the roll of the 
Prophet Isaiah in his hand, read the words that 
follow, and applied them to Jesus, ‘‘Beyond Jor- 
dan, in Galilee of the Gentiles, ‘the people which 
sat in darkness have seen a great light!’’ This 
changes the objections to his coming from Egypt 
and from Galilee into additional proofs of his 
claims to be the Messias. 

I hear you now ask, dear father, with many of 
the rich and influential citizens of Jerusalem, 
‘‘Have the rulers begun to believe in him?”’ 
Yes, Nicodemus does begin to believe that He is 
the Christ, being more and more assured of it the 
more he examines the divine Scriptures. O, my 
dear father, that you could see Jesus, and hear 
him discourse, as I have done! Ali your doubts 
would then be dissipated, and you would be will- 
ing to sit at his feet, and learn of him the words 
of life. How shall I describe him—how shali I 
cause you to hear and see him, as I have heard 
and seen? 

In my last letter I informed you that Rabbi 
Amos had invited him to sojourn with us during 
the Passover. John, the cousin of Mary, con- 
veyed to him the invitation of my uncle, and he 
graciously accepted it, and came hither yester- 
day, after he had quitted the Temple, from which 
he had with such commanding power driven 
forth the merchants and money-changers. 

Hearing the rumor flying along the streets, 
‘*The Prophet comes! the Prophet comes!’’ ut- 
tered by hundreds of voices of men and children, 


202 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


I hastened to the housetop, which commanded a 
view of the street, to the foot of the Temple. 
The whole way was asea of heads. The multi- 
tude came rolling onward, like a mighty river: 
as 1 have seen the dark Nile when pouring its 
freshening floods along its confined banks. 

Mary stood by my side. We tried to single 
out, amid the advancing throng, the central per- 
son around whom undulated the sea of heads, 
and whose progress gave occasion to so mighty a 
commotion. But all was so wildly confused with 
the waving of palm branches that we could dis- 
tinguish nothing clearly. While I was straining 
my gaze to make out the form of the Prophet, 
Mary touched me, and bade me look in the oppo- 
site direction. As I did so I beheld Aimilius 
Tullius, the young Roman Centurion, of whom I 
have before spoken, now Prefect of Pilate’s 
Legion, advancing at the head of two hundred 
horses at full spur, in order to meet and turn 
back the advancing column of people. | 

As he came opposite the house, he looked up, 
and seeing us upon the parapet, he gracefully 
waved his gleaming sword, saluting us, and was 
dashing past, when Mary cried out: 

‘Noble sir, there is no insurrection, as some 
of the people have doubtless told thee, but this 
vast crowd moving hitherward is only an escort 
to the Prophet of Nazareth, who cometh to be my 
father’s guest.’’ 

*‘T have orders from Pilate to arrest him, lady, 
as a disturber of the peace of the capital. ”’ 

‘‘Shall a prophet suffer because his mighty 
deeds draw crowds after his footsteps, noble 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 203 


Roman? If thy troops advance, there will be 
collision with the people. If thou wilt withdraw 
them a little, thou wilt see that when the Prophet 
crosses my father’s threshold, they will go away 
in peace.”’ 

The Prefect said nothing, but seemed to look 
at me for some words, which seeing, I earnesily 
entreated him to do the Prophet no violence. 

‘Yor thy wishes’ sake, lady, I will here draw 
up my troop; especially as I see that the people 
are unarmed.’’ 

The Centurion gave orders to his horsemen to 
draw up in a line opposite the house. The mul- 
titude now drew near; but many of those in 
advance, seeing the Roman horse, stopped or fell 
back, so that I beheld Jesus appear in front, 
walking at an even, calm pace, John at his side, 
and also Rabbi Amos was with him. As he came 
nigher, the people, for fear of the long Roman 
spears, fell back, and he advanced, almost alone. 
I saw John point out to him the house. The 
Prophet raised his face and gazed upon it an 
instant. I saw his features full. His counte- 
nance was not that of a young man, but of a per- 
son past the middle age of life, though he is but 
thirty. His dark brown hair was mingled with 
gray, and in his finely-shaped, oval face were 
carved, evidently by care and sorrow, deep lines. 
His beard was black, mingled with gray, and fell 
upon his breast. His large, hazel eyes, appeared 
to be fixed on us both for an instant, with benig- 
nity and peace. Deep sadness, gentle, not stern, 
seemed to be the characteristic expression of his 
noble and princely visage. There was an ais of 


204 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


manly dignity in his carriage and mien; and as 
he walked amid his followers, he was truly kingly, 
yet simplicity and humility qualified this native 
majesty of port. He seemed to unite both awe 
and love, in those who saw him, to command our 
homage and sympathy. 

As he drew near where the Roman Prefect sat 
upon his horse, the Prophet inclined his body 
slightly, but with a courtesy indescribable, to the 
young chief, who bent low to his saddlebow in 
acknowledgment, as if to a monarch. We were 
both surprised, as weil as gratified, dear father, 
at this act of homage from the Roman knight to 
our Prophet, and I thought more kindly than 
ever of Aimilius. 


Passing the horsemen, John and Rabbi Amos — 


conducted Jesus to our. door; but before they 
reached it there was a loud cry from several 
harsh voices to the Roman to arrest him. On 
looking from whence these shouts came, I saw 
that they proceeded from several of the priests 
headed by Annas, who were pressing forward 
through the crowd. 

‘“We eall upon you, O Prefect,, to arrest this 
man! Shame on thee, Rabbi Amos! Hast thou 
also believed in the impostor? We charge this 
Galilean, O Roman, with having made sedition: 
Hs has taken possession of the Temple, and 
unless you see to it, he will have the citadel out 
of your hands. If you arrest him not, we will 
not answer for the consequences that may befall 
the city and the pecple.’’ 

**T see nothing to fear from this man, Oye 
Jews,’’ answered A‘milius. ‘‘He is unarmed, 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 205 


and without troops. Stand back; keep ye to 
your Temple. It is from your outcries comes all 
the confusion! Back to vour altars! If commo- 
tions arise in the city, Pilate will make you ac- 
countable. All the rest of the people are peace- 
able, save only yourselves.’”’ 

**We will take our complaint before the Procu- 
rator,’’ cried Annas, who was the chief speaker; 
and, followed by a large company of angry 
priests and Levites, with staves in their hands, 
he took his way toward the palace of the Roman 
governor. 

I looked my gratitude to Aumilius, for taking 
part with the Prophet. 

The multitude now began to retire, as the 
Roman horse slowly moved up the street, and 
Jesus being received into the house by Mary, 
who descended to open the door, quiet was soon 
in a measure restored; though at one time a 
large concourse of persons, whose money-tables 
had been cast down, came to complain of their 
losses, and would have attacked the house but for 
Rabbi Amos, who went forth and eivilly ad- 
dressed them; showing them that if they had 
sold and bought in the Temple, contrary to law, 
and that if Jesus had driven them forth alone, he 
must be « prophet, for only a prophet could 
make a thousand men flee before him; ‘‘and if he 
be a prophet, my friends, he has acted by com- 
mand of God; and take heed, lest in avenging 
yourselves against him, you be found fighting 
against God.’’ 

With such words he caused them to retire, 
though many sick, lame, halt, and blind, and 


26 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


infirm, as well as a group of lepers, stood a long 
time without, calling upon the Prophet to come 
forth, and touch them and heal them. 

In the meanwhile, Jesus was taken into the 
inner hall, and water being brought, Rabbi Amos 
himself removed his sandals, and washed his feet; 
while Mary, to do him all honor, dried them with 
a rich veil, which she had just worked in anticei- 
pation of her coming bridal with her Cousin 
John. It was at this moment I entered the hall. 
Desirous as I had been to behold and speak with 
the Prophet, now that I could behold him face to 
face, 1 shrank with awe. He raised his eyes, 
and beholding me, said: 

‘‘Daughter, come thou also, and bid me wel- 
come with these dear friends; for I know thou 
believest in me, and wouldst that thy father also 
should believe. Be patient, and hope; for thou 
shalt yet behold him whom thou lovest, my dis- 
ciple!’’ 

As he thus spake, he extended to me his hand, 
upon which I let fall arain of tears of joy. I knew 
that he knew my heart and thoughts, and that 
his words would prove true. Yes, dear father, 
you also will believe, as we all believe. You also 
are to acknowledge Him as the Christ. 

There were in the room not only Amos and 
John and Mary, but the Priest Elias, cousin to 
Caiaphas, who, desirous of hearing from the lips 
of the Prophet his sublime teachings, had come 
in with him. There were also present five men 
whom I never saw before; but who, as John said, 
were his disciples. One of them was a short, 
compactly-made man, with high, energetic fea- 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 207 


tures, a bold brow and eagle eye, with an air of 
singular determination, like a soldier. His name 
was Simon Peter. Another was a tall, intellectual 
person, with a calm, thoughtful air, who seemed 
to hang on every word his master uttered, as if 
he were listening to the very oracles of God. 
His name was Andrew, and he is brother to 
Simon. But I had no eye or ear for any one 
but Jesus. I saw that he seemed weary and 
pale, and for the first time I noticed a wound 
oozing blood upon his temple, from which he 
seemed to suffer, as from time to time he raised 
his hand to it. Desirous of serving so holy a 
person, I hastened to prepare liniment, with 
which, bringing it into the hall, I was about to 
bind up his wound, which John said had been 
caused by a stone thrown by some wicked hand. 
But the Priest Elias put me rudely back, and 
said, ‘‘Nay, maiden, let us witness a miracle!’’ 
He then turned to the Prophet and said, ‘‘Mas- 
ter, we have heard much of thy power to do 
miracles, but have seen none by thee! If thou 
wilt presently show me a miracle, I will believe, 
I and all my house! Thou hast a wound gaping 
in thy temple; heal it with a touch, and I will 
acknowledge thee the Christ, the Son of the 
blessed!’’ 

Jesus turned his eyes upon him and said, 
**Elias, thou readest the Prophets, and should 
know whether he who speaketh unto thee be the 
Christ or no! Search the Scriptures, that thou 
mayest know that the time of his visitation is 
come, and that [am He! One prophecy fulfilled 
is of more value than many miracles. ButI de 


208 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


no miracles to relieve my own sufferings. Icame 
into this world to suffer. Isaiah wrote of me as 
@ man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief! 
Blessed are they who not seeing, shall believe. 
Ye believe that I am a prophet, and come out 
from God. It is well. Shall a prophet, then, 
deceive? Iflama prophet (and ye doubt it not), 
and I say that I am the Christ, why will ye not 
believe me? If Lamatrue prophet, come out 
from God, I cannot lie. Yetye believe me when 
I say I am a prophet, and ye are displeased if I 
say that I am the Christ. If ye believe me atall, 
then believe what I say unto you, that 1am the 
Christ.’ 

‘“But, master,’’ said the aged Levite, Asher, 
‘‘we know whence thou art—even from Galilee. 
But when Christ cometh, no man knoweth 
whence he is!”’ 

‘“Tt is true, O man of Israel, ye both know me 
and whence lam. Yet ye know not Him who 
sent me. Yedo not understand the Scriptures, 
or ye would indeed know me, whence I am, and 
who hath sent me. But ye know neither me nor 
Him that sent me, for I am come out from God. 
If ye had known Him, ye would know me also. 
The time cometh when ye shall know whence I 
am and believe in me; but now your hearts are 
darkened through ignorance and unbelieving. I 
have told you plainly I am the Christ. ’”’ 

When he had thus spoken, with great dignity 
and power, there were many present who were 
offended, and some voices murmured against. 
him. Then Rabbi Amos led him forth to the 
apartment he had prepared for him; but the peo< 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 209 


ple remained warmly discussing the subject, and 
were greatly divided about him, some saying 
that he was Christ, and others denying it; while 
others cried aloud that he did his miracles by 
Beelzebub, Prince of the devils. 

*“‘And so,’’ said my Cousin John bitterly, 
“and so it is wherever my beloved master goes. 
Detraction and envy, malice and unbelief, follow 
his footsteps, and daily his life is menaced, and 
no place is a place of shelter for his aching head.’’ 

In going to his apartment the Prophet had to 
cross the court, and as I was watching his retir- 
ing footsteps, | saw four men who had climbed to 
the housetop from the street, the doors being 
shut, let down a fifth in a blanket at the very 
feet of Jesus. It was aman afflicted with the 
palsy, and grievously tormented, and their own 
father. Jesus seeing their filial love, stopped 
and said kindly: 

“Young men, what would ye have me to do?”’ 

**Heal our aed father, holy Rabbi.’’ 

‘“Believe ye that I can do this?’’ he asked, 
fixing his gaze earnestly on them. 

*““Yes, Lord! we believe that thou art the 
Christ, thé son of the living God! All things 
are possible unto thee!”’ 

Jesus looked benignantly upon them, and then 
taking the venerable man by the hand, he said 
to him in a loud voice, so that all who were look- 
ing on heard him: 

**Aged father, I say unto thee, arise and walk!’’ 

The palsied man instantly rose to his feet, 
whole and strong, and after casting a glance 
around upon himself, he threw himself at the 


210 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


Prophet’s feet, and bathed them in tears. The 
four sons did the same, while all the people who 
witnessed the miracle shouted, ‘‘Glory to God, 
who hath given such power unto men!’’ 

Jesus then withdrew himself from the grateful 
group, who, embracing their father, wept upon 
his neck, and then the whole four escorted him, 
two on each side, with their arms about him, 
and about each other, into the street, where they 
were received by the multitude with loud cries of 
gratulation; for the old man had been well known 
in the city by all men, as palsied and unable to 
walk for thirty years. 

Such, my dear father, are the increasing testi- 
monies Jesus bears, by miracles, as well as by 
words, to his being Messias. 

The God of our fathers keep you in health. 

Your loving daughter, 
ADINA. 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 211 


LETTER XIX. 


Dear Faruer: The visit of the prophet Jesus to 
the city has produced results of the most amaz- 
ing character. His numerous miracles, performed 
in open day by a word, or a look, or a touch, or 
a command, the power of his preaching, the ex- 
cellency of his doctrines, which are evidently 
divine, his clear assertions that he is the very 
Christ, have all contributed to bring the first 
men of Israel, rulers as well as people, to believe 
in him! During the four days he remained at 
the house of my Uncle Amos, the chief men of 
the city came to hear him, and, if possible, to 
see some miracle performed by him. The priest- 
hood is divided. Caiaphas has publicly recog- 
nized him as a prophet, while Annas has publicly 
declared that he is an impostor; and thus two 
parties are formed in the city, headed by the two 
priests, and all men have taken sides with one or 
the other. But the majority of the common peo- 
ple are in favor of Jesus, believing him to be the 
Christ. The Pharisees most oppose him, because 
he boldly reproves their sins and hypocrisies; 
and though they fear him, they hate and would 
destroy him, for he preaches so plainly against 
their wickedness, that the people have ceased to 
respect them. Even Nicodemus, who at first was 
inclined to accept Jesus as a Rrophet, finding 


212 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


the Pharisees against him, and being unwilling 
to lose his popularity with them, kept away from 
the house where Jesus was by day; but his curi- 
osity to learn more of him led him to visit the 
holy Prophet secretly by night. This he did 
twice, coming alone in the darkness, and being 
let in by his friend Rabbi Amos. What the 
result of these interviews was, I can only tell you 
from Mary’s account. She overheard their con- 
versation, her window opening upon the corridor, 
where Jesus had been seated after supper, alone 
in the moonlight for full an hour, gazing medi- 
tatively heavenward. His pale and chiseled fea- 
tures in the white moonlight seemed radiant as 
marble, and as cold, when Rabbi Amos came and 
announced the ruler Nicodemus, as desirous to 
speak with him. 

‘Bid him come in and see me, if he has aught 
to say to me,’’ answered the Prophet, turning 
toward him. 

‘*Nicodemus,’’ added my Cousin Mary, ‘‘then 
came to the corridor, wrapped carefully in his 
mantle; and, looking about to see if he were 
unobserved, he dropped it from his face, and, 
bowing reverently, said to the Prophet: 

‘“Pardon me, O Rabbi, that I come to thee by 
night; but by day thy time is taken up with 
healing and teaching. Iam glad to find thee 
alone, great Prophet, for I would ask thee many 
things. ’”’ 

‘*Speak, Nicodemus, and I will listen to thy 
words,’’ answered the Prophet. 

‘‘Rabbi,’’ said the ruler of the Pharisees, ‘‘I 
know thou art a teacher, come from God; for no 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 218 


man can do these things that thou doest except 
God be with him. That thou art a mighty 
Prophet, I believe, as do all men: but art thou 
the Messias? Tell us plainly!’’ 

‘Tf I tell thee, Nicodemus, thou wilt not be- 
lieve,’’ answered Jesus mildly. ‘‘I will ask you 
one question. Whence cometh Christ ?’’ 

‘‘He is the son of David, and cometh out of 
Bethlehem. ’’ 

‘‘Thou hast well answered. Rabbi Amos, 
here, will tell thee that he has examined the 
records. Ask him whose son he is who speaketh 
unto thee.’’ 

‘The son of Joseph and Mary, of the lineage 
of David’s house,’’ answered RabbiAmos. ‘‘The 
record of his birth I have seen, O Nicodemus, and 
also have Caiaphas and many others. Thou 
canst examine for thyself, if thou wilt come to 
the Temple with me to-morrow.’’ 

‘““Thy word sufiices, O Rabbi Amos; for who 
ever knew thy lips to utter falsehood ?’’ 

‘‘The same record shows that the great 
Prophet, now here among us, was born in Beth- 
lehem, in the days of the taxation,’’ answered 
Rabbi Amos. 

‘‘Then whence is it, O Prophet, that thou 
comest out of Nazareth of Galilee?’’ asked Nico- 
demus doubtingly. 

**T will tell thee, Nicodemus,’’ answered Jesus. 
**My parents dwelt in Nazareth, and as they so- 
journed at Bethlehem, to be registered in their 
own family town, David’s town, I was born! 
Thus am I of the line of David, of the town of 
Bethlehem, and also as it was prophesied of me, 


214 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


a Nazarene. Dost thou ask more? Dost thou 
believe ?”’ 

**Yea, Lord; but how read the Prophets that 
Messias is to be a king, and to rule the whole 
earth ?’’ 

‘‘Mv kingdom, O ruler of the Pharisees, is not 
of this world! I am indeed a king, but of a 
spiritual kingdom. My kingdom, unlike all 
earthly kingdoms, has no end; and those who 
become its subjects must be born again, or they 
cannot see it!’’ 

‘‘Born again?’’? answered Nicodemus, with 
surprise. ‘‘How can a man be a second time 
born after he is grown to manhood? O Rabbi, 
thou speakest in parables. ’”’ 

‘‘Art thou a wise man of the Pharisees, and a 
master in Israel, and knowest not what I say ?”’ 
answered the Prophet. ‘‘Verily, verily I say 
unto thee, except a man be born of water and of 
the Spirit he cannot enter my kingdom. He who 
is born of Adam is of the flesh, and of Satan’s 
kingdom, of which Adam was; but he that is 
born again is born a spiritual man, and is of mv 
kingdom; for I come to build up a kingdom on 
the ruins of Satan’s seat. Marvel not, then, that 
I say that the sons of Adam must be born again 
to be sons of God. If ye would enter into my 
kingdom and live forever, ye must be born again, 
even of water and of the Spirit.’’ 

‘‘How can these things be? Pray, master, 
explain, that I may know what this mystery 
meaneth. How can aman be born when he is 
old ?’’ 

‘*What! dost thou stumble at the very thresh- 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 215 


old of the doctrine of my kingdom, O Phari- 
see? If ye cannot believe earthly things, how 
shall ye understand the heavenly things, which 
ye seek to know? He that would be my disciple 
must be born again! Your first birth is under 
Satan’s power, which rules the world as it now is 
in bondage; your second birth is into His king- 
dom, who has come to destroy Satan’s and build 
up Hisown. ‘This birth is spiritual.’’ 

Upon this Nicodemus rose and said, with a 
shake of the head: 

**T will hear thee again, O Rabbi, of this mat- 
ter touching the new birth, of which thou 
apeakest.’”’ 

When Nicodemus left him Rabbi Amos said, 
‘‘Is it indeed true, O master, that thou art to 
establish a kingdom ?”’ 

**Yes, Rabbi Amos, a kingdom in which 
dwelleth righteousness,’’ answered the Prophet. 

‘*And shall all nations pay us tribute ?’’ 

*‘Thou knowest not what thou sayest, O Rabbi. 
But the veil shall be removed from thine eyes 
when thou seest the Son of man lifted up on his 
throne, as Moses lifted up the serpent in the 
wilderness. ’’ 

‘“Where will be thy throne, O Messias? Wilt 
thou expel the Romans from the city of David, 
and reign there ?’’ 

‘Thou shalt yet behold me on my throne, O 
Amos, raised above the earth, and drawing all 
men unto me.”’ 

‘Wilt thou have thy throne in the clouds of 
heaven, O Master, that thou shalt be raised above 
the earth upon it?’’ asked Rabbi Amos. 


216 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


‘*My throne shall beset on Mount Calvary, and 
the ends of the earth shall look unto me, and ac- 
knowledge my empire. But thou knowest not 
these things now; but hereafter thou shalt re- 
member that I told thee of them.’’ 

Jesus then rose, and bidding his host good- 
night, retired to the apartment which was 
assigned him, and Mary remained wondering at 
his sayings. 

Thus, dear father, it is made certain from his 
own words that Jesus is the Christ; that he is 
to establish a kingdom; that he will stand on ‘‘a 
throne high and lifted up,’’ as saith the Prophet, 
and all the earth shall acknowledge him. But 
why his throne should be on Calvary instead of 
Mount Zion, Rabbi Amos wonders greatly, in 
conversing with us to-day; for Calvary is a place 
of skulls, and of public executions, and is covered 
with Roman crosses, where every week some 
malefactor is crucified for his crimes! And yet 
it 18 more mysterious still his saying that we 
must be born again. But John remarked that 
there are many things which he says to him and 
his disciples which Jesus plainly tells them they 
cannot yet understand, but will by and by re- 
member; and that he tells them now that then, 
when they see these things fulfilled, they may 
remember that he told them of them and believe 
in him; and have confidence that other sayings 
and prophecies of his, yet further in the future, 
will come to pass. 

Jesus, in all that he says, in all that he does, 
proves that he is omniscient and omnipotent! 
Whatever he wills to do, he doeth. Never man 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 217 


had power such as dwells in him. This morning, 
as he was going forth from the house to depart 
into the country, a man lame from his youth, 
seated upon the threshold, caught him by his 
robe, saying, ‘‘Master, heal me!’’ 

**Son, thy sins be forgiven thee,’’ answered 
Jesus, and then passed on; but the Seribes and 
Pharisees who stood about, when they heard 
this, cried, ‘‘This man, be he prophet or no, 
blasphemeth; for God alone can forgive sins!”’ 

Jesus stopped, and turning to them, said: 

‘Which is easier, to say to this man, who has 
not walked for twelve years, and whose legs and 
arms are withered, as you see, ‘Thy sins be for- 
given thee,’ or to say, ‘Riseand walk?’ If I can 
bid him rise and walk as aforetime, and he does 
so before your eyes, is it not proof to you that I 
have power to forgive his sins also? For who 
could make him to rise and walk but the power 
of God alone, who also forgiveth men’s sins? 
But that ye may know that the Son of God hath 
power on earth to forgive sins, Behold!’’ 

The Prophet then said in a loud voice to the 
lame man, ‘‘Arise, take up thy bed, and go to 
thine house!”’ 

Immediately the man rose to his feet, leaping 
and praising God, and taking up the mattress 
upon which they had brought him to the door, 
he ran swiftly away to show himself to his kins- 
folk, while all the people shouted and praised 
God! 

Thus did Jesus publicly show men that he 
could forgive sins, if he could heal, as the power 
to do both came equally from Ged. Does not 
this prove that he is the Son of Ged? 


218 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


You should have seen him, dear father, as he 
left our house, to go away into Galilee. Mary 
and I fell at his feet and bathed them with our 
tears. Rabbi Amos, and even Nicodemus, 
kneeled before him, with many others, asking his 
blessing; mothers came with these infants, that 
he might lay his hands on them; and the sick 
and impotent were placed by their friends in his 
path that his shadow in passing by might heal 
them. Hundreds brought handkerchiefs, amu- 
lets, and sprigs of cypress torn from the booths, 
in order that they might bring them in contact 
with his garments. The street was lined with all 
the afflicted of Jerusalem; and as he moved on 
between the rows of wretched sufferers, whose 
hollow eyes and shriveled arms were turned im- 
ploringly toward him, he healed by words 
addressed to them, as he moved on, so that where 
he found disease before him, stretched on beds, 
he left behind him health and empty couches. 
We all wept at his departure, and followed him 
to the Damascus gate. Here there were assem- 
bled a large company of Levites and priests, 
among whom were mingled some of the most 
desperate characters in Jerusalem. Knowledge 
of this fact reached Rabbi Amos, who at once sent 
a message to Admilius, our Roman friend, in- 
forming him that he apprehended that there 
would be an attempt made to assassinate Jesus at 
the going out of the gate, and asking his aid. 

/Emilius placed himself at the head of fifty 
horse, and reaching the gate, pressed the crowd 
back, and took possession of it. When Jesus 
passed through the armed guard beneath the 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 219 


arch, the young Roman courteously offered him 
an escort to the next village. 

Jesus, graciously looking on him, said: 

‘*Young man, I need not thy help. My hour 
is not yet come. They cannot harm me till my 
hour arrives. Iam not yet given by my father 
into their hands! Take my blessing, and one 
day thou shalt know to whom thou hast offered 
the aid of thy troop.’’ 

The Levites and their hired murderers now 
pressed forward, and broke through the cohort 
to reach Jesus, uttering wild and fearful cries; 
but Admilius charging them, routed them, and 
put several to the sword. He then rode to the 
side of the Prophet, offering him the best horse 
in his company. This accommodation Jesus 
refused, but walked by the Roman soldier, who 
insisted on escorting him, affably conversing with 
him, and teaching him wonderful things touch- 
ing the kingdom of God. 

Aimilius, who informed me of these things, 
conducted him as far as Ephraim, and then was 
about to leave him to return to the city, when 
four lepers came from the cemetery of the tombs, 
near the village, and erying out afar off, said: 

‘“Thou blessed Christ, have merey on us!”’ 

Jesus stopped, though his disciple Peter would 
have bidden the lepers to hold their peace, as it 
was late, and his Master was weary; but Jesus, 
who never wearies doing good, called the lepers 
to approach. As they did so, the whole company 
of people, as well as the Roman soldiers, drew 
back to a distance, in horror at the sight of these 
dead-living men. They came timidly within 


220 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


twenty paces of Jesus,‘ and stood still, trem. 
blingly. 

‘‘Fear not,’’ said he, ‘‘I will make you whole!”’ 

He then advanced toward them, and laying his 
hand upon each of them, they all, at the touch, ~ 
were instantly changed to well men, with the 
buoyant form, clear eye, and rich bloom of 
health! 

When Aimilius saw this miracle, he dismounted 
from his horse, and falling at Jesus’ feet, cried, 
worshiping him: 

‘“Thou art Mercury or Jupiter, O mighty God! 
Give me wisdom and power from the skies!”’ 

‘*Rise, young man,’’ answered Jesus, sadly 
looking upon him; ‘‘thou shalt have wisdom and 
grace, but not from thy gods; there is but one 
God, even the Father; worship him, and he will 
reward thee!”’ 

/Mmilius said to me thet his heart thrilled at 
these words, with others he had spoken in the 
way, and he promised me that he would hence- 
forth ‘‘cast aside his gods and believe in the God 
of Israel, and in Jesus, his holy Prophet. ’’ 

Is not this blessed news? ‘‘Lo! he proclaims, ”’ 
as saith the prophet, ‘‘liberty to the Gentiles. ’’ 

Now, my dear father, I have thus far faithfuily 
written all that I have heard and witnessed re- 
specting Jesus, as you desire. You must see 
that he is more than a Prophet, and is the very 
Christ, the son of the Blessed. Withhold, oh, 
withhold not, your belief longer. Thousands 
believe in him, love and reverence him, as Mes- 
sias. Daily his power over the hearts and minds 
of men is increasing. The common people wor- 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 221 


ship the very dust of his sandals. The priests 
believe and tremble; but, like Herod, when he 
was an infant in Bethlehem, would destroy him, 
lest he should supplantthem. They say the daily 
sacrifice will cease, the Temple fall to ruins, and 
the faith of Israel depart, if Jesus be suffered to 
live and preach, and do these mighty signs and 
wonders among the people. But all this estab- 
lishes his claims! Did not David prophesy of 
Messias,that when he should come, ‘‘The kings of 
the earth would set themselves, and the rulers 
take council together against the Lord and 
against his anointed? But he that sitteth in the 
heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in 
derision.’’ Thus, dear father, all things more 
and more go to prove Jesus of Nazareth to be the 
Christ of God. 
Your affectionate and loving daughter 
ADINA. 


ca) 
ww 


2 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


LETTER XX. 


My Dear Farner: It is many months since you 
have received a letter from me, written with my 
own hand; and I rejoice that I am so far restored 
to health as to resume my correspondence with 
you. I cannot speak to you too warmly in praise 
of my Uncle Amos and Cousin Mary, during my 
illness. By their care and nursing, under the 
blessing of God, I am now nearly well. The pure 
air of the mountains of Galilee being recom- 
mended to me, they journeyed with me thither, 
and at the foot of Mount Tabor, in the lovely vil- 
lage of Nain, I have passed many weeks, reviving 
each day. 

We are now at the humble abode of a widow, 
whose husband had been lost on the Great Sea, 
on which he was a seaman in one of the merchant 
ships of Cesarea. The cottage of the widow 
stands in a garden, from which is a sublime view 
of Tabor, in all the majesty of his mountain 
grandeur. One day while I was in the garden 
walking, two men, dusty and _ travel-worn, 
stopped at the half-open gate, and saluting us, 
said: 

“*Peace be to this house, maiden, and all who 
dwell here.’’ 

**Enter,’’ said the widow, overhearing them, 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 223 


‘enter, and ye shall have water for your feet, and 
bread for your hunger.’’ 

The two men then entered and seated them- 
selves; and having been refreshed by the poor 
but hospitable widow, one of them rose and said: 

‘‘This day is salvation come to this house. 
We are ambassadors of Jesus of Nazareth, and go 
from city to city, proclaiming the day of the 
Lord at hand, for Messias is come!”’ 

At hearing these words, Mary and I both ex- 
claimed with joy that we had both seen and 
heard Jesus at Jerusalem, and believed on him. 
Upon this they looked greatly pleased; and an- 
Swered our inquiries respecting the Prophet, 
that he was in Samaria, preaching and working 
miracles, and proclaiming his kingdom. When 
we heard this we rejoiced exceedingly, for we 
had not heard of him for a long time. From 
them we learned that he had chosen twelve apos- 
tles, who always went with him, and were daily 
taught of him: and also, more recently, seventy 
others, whom he sent two and two into every 
city, to herald his approach. 

**Will he, then, come to WNain?®’’ said the 
widow, with emotion. ‘‘I should be willing to 
die so that I could lay my eyes once upon so 
great and holy a man!’’ 

**Yes, he will come hither,’’ answered the men ; 
*“and when we shall report to him your hospital- 
ity to us, he will visit your house; for he never 
forgets a cup of water given to one of his dis- 
ciples. ’’ 

The men then departed, calling the peace of 
God upon our abode. They had not been gone 


224 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


many minutes before we heard a great commo- 
tion in the market-place near by. Upon going 
to the housetop, we beheld these two men stand- 
ing upon an elevation, and preaching the king- 
dom of Christ at hand, and calling upon all who 
heard them to repent of their evil deeds and lead 
a godly life; for Jesus would one day judge them 
according to the deeds done in the body. Upon 
this, some cried out against Jesus, and others 
threw stones at the two men; and when we 
reached the housetop, we saw one of them re- 
move his sandals and shake the dust from them, 
saying in a loud voice: 

**As ye reject the words of life, your sins 
remain upon you, asl return to you again the 
dust of your city.’’ 

They then departed, followed by Levites and 
men of the baser sort, who fairly drove them 
from the town. This hostility, we found, was 
caused by an order from the Great Sanhedrim, 
to all the synagogues and priests in the land, 
that they should denounce all who preach Jesus 
of Nazareth as the Christ. 

While we were grieving at this enmity against 
a Prophet sent from God, whose life was a series 
of good deeds, there entered hastily a fair young 
maid whose name was Ruth. She held an open 
letter in her hand, and her beautiful face glowed 
rosily with some secret joy, which contrasted 
strangely with the present sadness of our own. 
We knew Ruth well, and loved her as if she had 
been a sister. She was an orphan, and dwelt 
with her uncle, Elihaz, the Levite, a man of in- 
fluence in the town. She was artless, unsuspect- 
ing, and very interesting in all her ways. 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 225 


‘“What good news, dear Ruth?’’ asked Mary, 
smiling at her bright smiles. ‘‘A letter from 
whom ?’’ 

**For Sarah,’’ answered the. pretty maid, 
blushing so timidly and consciously that we 
half-suspected the truth. 

*‘But that is not telling us from whom,”’’ per- 
severed Mary, with a little playfulness. 

**You can guess,’’ she answered, glancing over 
her white shoulder, as she bounded away from 
us into the house. 

We were soon after her, and heard her as she 
cried, putting the letter into the dear widow’s 
hand: 

‘From Samuel!’’ 

*“God be blessed,’’ cried the widow, ‘‘my son 
liveth, and is well.”’ 

‘Read, dear Sarah,’ cried the maiden. ‘‘He 
was at Alexandria when he wrote this, and will 
soon be at home. Oh, happy, happy day!’’ 
added the overjoyed girl, quite forgetful of our 
presence. But we had long known the story of 
her pure love for the widow’s son, and she had 
made us confidants of all her hopes and fears, 
and read to us all the letters that came from him 
on the seas, for he went down to trade in the sea 
in ships, like his father before him. We knew, 
too, that the youthful wanderer loved her with as 
much devotion as she loved him, and our hearts 
sympathized with her in her true affection. 

““Nay,’’ said the widow, ‘‘my eyes are filled 
with tears of gladness; I cannot see to read. 
Do thou read it aloud. Let Adina and Mary 
also know what he writeth. Is the letter to me, 
or thee. child?’’ 


226 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


““To—to me, dear Sarah,’’ answered the 
maiden, with a momentary embarrassment. 

‘‘Likely—likely; it is most natural thou 
shouldst get the best part of the epistles. But 
so I hear and know he is well, it is the same, 
writeth he to me or thee!’’ 

Ruth then cast a bright look upon us, and 
thus read aloud from the letter from over the 
sea: 


**Dearrst Ruru: I fear you have been impatient 
at my long silence; but I love you not less, 
though you do not often hear from me. Now 
that I am safe I will write to you, which I would 
not do in a state of uncertainty. Know that 
after our ship left Cesarea for Crete, we were 
caught by a north wind, and. in striving to make 
the east end of the island, we lost way, and were 
driven upon Africa, where we were wrecked, los- 
ing all our cargo, and the lives of many wha 
sailed with us. With others, I was taken by the 
barbarians, and carried inland to a country of 
rocky mountains, and there became a bondman 
to one of the chief men of the nation wherein I 
was captivated. At length, inspired by a con- 
sciousness of the anguish you and my beloved 
mother must suffer, should you never more hear 
tidings of me, I resolved to effect my escape. 
After great perils, I reached the seaside, and at 
the expiration of many days, by following the 
coast, I was taken on board by a small ship of 
Cyprus, and conveyed to Alexandria. The ves- 
sel was owned by a rich merchant of my own 
people, Manassah Benjamin Ben Israel, who, find- 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. R27 


ing me sick and destitute of all things, just as I 
escaped, took me home to his hospitable house, 
and treated me as a son till I recovered my 
health and strength; saying that he had a daugh- 
ter far away, in Judea, and he hoped that if she 
ever needed the aid of strangers, God would 
repay him by making them kind to her.’’ 

Here Mary and I looked at each other with 
agitation and pleased surprise. 

*“It was my father,’’ I exclaimed, with emo- 
tion; ‘‘I rejoice that his house became thy son’s 
home, O lady. Blessed be my father!’’ 

When Sarah heard that it was at your house, 
dear father, her son had been so hospitably enter- 
tained, she embraced me again and again, and 
entreated me to convey to you her heartfelt 
gratitude; which I do herewith. And it is, 
dearest father, because you know and love this 
young man, so providentially thrown upon your 
eare, that I shall be so particular in recounting 
what I am about to do concerning him. 

Ruth ended the reading of the letter, which 
told that he should return in the first ship bound 
to Sidon, or Cesarea, when he hoped to behold 
her and his mother face to face, and to receive 
as his bride the maiden he had so long loved 
and cherished in his heart. 

Sarah now seemed to be drawn closer to me in 
affection, and also so did Ruth, since they have 
learned that I am the daughter of the noble Jew 
who did so much for Samuel in a strange land. 
At length, as the day grew near for me to leave, 
to return to Jerusalem, my health being quite 
invigorated, we were all taken with delighted sure 


228 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


prise at the appearance of the long absent son 
and lover in the midst of our happy circle. 

Mary and I had once seen him, and we were 
now impressed with his manly and sun-browned 
beauty, his bold air, and frank, ingenuous man- 
ner. We could not but agree that the pretty 
Ruth had shown fine taste. He gave to me the 
package which you desired him to forward to 
Jerusalem, and thus we all round had reason to 
rejoice at his coming. But alas! my dear father, 
our joy wasshort-lived! Little did we anticipate 
how speedily our rejoicings were to end in 
mourning. The very night of his return he was 
seized with a malignant fever, which he had 
brought from Africa with him; and we were all 
overwhelmed with grief. 

It would be impossible to paint to you the 
anguish of the mother; the heart-rending dis- 
tress of his betrothed, as they bent over his 
couch, and saw the fierce plague burning him, as 
if he were in a furnace. 

Unconscious of their presence, he raved wildly ; 
and sometimes fancied himself suffering thirst on 
the burning sands of Africa; and new battling 
with the barbarians for his life. All that physi- 
cians could do, and his friends could do—for he 
was greatly beloved as well for his own sake as 
for his mother’s and Ruth’s—all was of no avail. 
This morning, the third day after his return, he 
expired amid the most distressing agonies. 
Poor Ruth! She cast herself in perfect abandon- 
ment of grief upon his lifeless and disfigured 
corpse; and now that they have removed her 
from the chamber of death, her shrieks fill the 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 229 


house. His mother sits by him, the image of 
despair, holding his cold hand in hers, and 
uttering wails of woe sad enough to rend a 
Roman ’s heart: 

‘*My son! my son! lost and found, to be torn 
from me forever! Oh, that I had died for thee! 
Thou and Ruth would then be happy. Wouldto 
God I had died for thee, oh, my son, Samuel, my 
son!’’ Itis hike David bewailing Absalom. 

I write this sad news to you, dear father, 
knowing how deeply you will mourn his death; 
for your letters show me that you have formed 
for him almost a paternal! attachment, carried so 
far as a promise to provide him with a ship to 
trade in Egypt, after his marriage with Ruth 
shall have taken place. Alas! instead of a bridal, 
behold a funeral. Already the bearers are at the 
door, and in a few minutes he will be borne 
forth upon the dead-bier to the burial place with- 
out the city. 

**Oh,’’ sighs Mary near me, as I write, ‘‘oh, 
that Jesus, the mighty Prophet, had been here; 
he could have healed him!’’ John has sent to 
her a message, saying that he is traveling this 
way, on his message of healing and teaching, and 
may be here this evening. But what will it 
avail, dear father? Even Jesus cannot return the 
dead to life! It was never known that the dead 
rose again. Oh, if he could have been here yes- 
terday, his power over diseases would have 
enabled him to save his precious life! But 
regrets are useless. The noble young man is 
dead, and will live again only in the resurrection 
of the just. 


R30 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


I hear the heavy tread of the dead-bearers in 
the court below. The shrieks and wails of the 
mourning women thrill my soul with awe. But 
above all, pierces the wild cry of anguish of the 
breaved mother! Ruth’s voice is hushed. She 
has been for the last hour inanimate as marble, 
sitting with a glazed eye and rigid features gaz- 
ing on vacancy. Only by her pulse .can it be 
said she lives! Poor maiden! The blow is too 
terrible for her to bear. 

My Cousin Mary has this moment received a 
small roll of parchment, which, from the flush in 
her cheek, 1 know to be from her betrothed. 
She smiles sadly, and with tears in her eyes 
hands it to me. 

[ have read it, dear father. It reads as fol- 
lows: if I have time to transcribe it before the 
call to follow the dead forth to burial is given: 


**Gapara, beyond Judea. 

“*The bearer, beloved, is one of the disciples of 
Jesus. His name is Bartimeus. He was blind 
and poor, and subsisted by begging; and, as you 
see, his sight is restored, and he insists now on 
going from town to town where he has been 
known as a blind man, to proclaim what Jesus 
has done for him. He takes this to you. I 
write to say that I wish thou mayest prosper in 
all things, and find the health for which thou 
and thy cousin sought the air of Mount Tabor. 
I have no greater joy than to hear of your wel- 
fare. This letter cometh beseeching thee, lady, 
that as we love one another unfeignedly, so may 
we soon be united in that holy union which God 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. Rol 


hath blessed and commanded. I would have 
thee bear in remembrance that thou gavest thy 
promise hereto when last we met at Nazareth. 
But, having much to say hereupon, I will not 
commit it to paper and ink; but by to-morrow, 
or the day after, I trust to come to you, and 
speak with ycu, dearly beloved, face to face, 
those things which come now to my lips. Fare- 
well, lady, and peace be with you, and all in 
your house. Greet thy friends in my name, 
letting them know that we shall shortly be with 
you, with Amos, your father, now our dear 
brother in the Lord. There are many things 
which I have seen and heard touching my holy 
Master, Jesus, and his holy mission to the 
world, which I will declare unto you when we 
meet, that you also may have fellowship with us 
in those things which we know and believe con- 
cerning him. My Master saluteth thee and all 
in your house; Amos, also, greeteth thee with a 
kiss. This is the second epistle I have written 
unto you from this place.’”’ 

‘Oh, that the mighty Prophet had come one 
day sooner!’’ cried Mary. ‘‘What woe and 
anguish would have been spared poor Ruth and 
his mother! But the will cf Jehovah be done.’’ 

We hear now, dear father, the voice of the 
covernor of the funeral, bidding us come down 
to bury the dead. 

Farewell, dearest father. I know you will 
shed a tear to the memory of the noble youth 
whose death has this day filled all Nain with 
mourning. AsI look from the lattice, I see the 
“oncourse of people to be immense, filling all the 





932 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 





street. Now, may the God of our father Abra- 
ham preserve and keep you, and suffer us once — 
more to meet face to face in joy and peace. 


Your dutiful and sorrowful daughter, 
; - ADINA. 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. Lo0 


LETTER XXI. 


My Dearest Farner: [I seize my pen; which I 
laid down an hour ago, in order to follow to his 
burial the son of our hostess, to recount to you 
one of the most extraordinary things which ever 
happened, and which fills us all with such joy 
and wonder that I fear my trembling fingers will 
scarcely express legibly what I have to tell you. 

As I told you in my letter just finished, I was 
cailed away to accompany the weeping mother to 
the burial place outside of the gates. But when .- 
I reached the courtyard where the body of her 
son lay upon a bier, which the bearers had 
already raised upon their shoulders, the deep 
grief of poor Ruth overcame her wholly, and I 
led her to her room, where she sank insensible 
upon her couch. I could not leave her in her 
situation, and the procession went forth from the 
house without me; Mary, as she walked, support- 
ing upon her arm the bereaved mother, clad in 
her mourning weeds. 

As the funeral train passed the lattice, it 
seemed endless, so vast a number of people ac- 
companied the body, to do honor to a widow in 
Israel. At length it passed by, and I was left 
alone with the motionless Ruth. She seemed to 
sleep, though every few moments she would mur- 
mur the name of the dead. Isat by her, refiect- 


234 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


ing upon the mysterious ways of God in bringing 
this widow’s son safely home from the thousand 
dangers to which he had been exposed, from 
shipwreck and bondage, to gladden her soul with 
his presence for a few hours, and then to die in 
her arms! As I gazed on the marble counte- 
nance of the bereaved maiden, I could not but 
pray that she might not recover from her swoon, 
to revive to the bitter realization of her loss, and 
to the renewal of her grief. 

Suddenly, I heard a very great shout. I 
started, and hastened to the lattice. It was re- 
peated louder, and with a glad tone, that showed 
me thatit was a shoutof joy. It seemed to come 
from beyond the city walls, and from a hundred 
voices raised in unison. I knew that the house- 
top overlooked the walls, and seeing that Ruth 
moved not, I ascended rapidly to the parapet, the 
shouts and glad cries still increasing as I went 
up, and exciting my wonder and curiosity. 
Upon reaching the flat roof, and stepping upon 
the parapet, I saw coming along the street, 
toward the house, with the speed of the antelope, 
Klec, our Gibeonite slave. He was waving his 
hands wildly, and crying out something which I 
could not distinctly hear. Behind him I saw 
two youths running also, appearing to be the 
bearers of some great tidings. 

I knew something wonderful must have oc- 
curred, but could not divine what it could be. 
On looking toward the gate, from which direc- 
tion the shouts at intervals continued to approach, 
I discovered on the hillside of the cemetery 
many people crowded together, and evidently 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 235 


surrounding some person in their midst; for the 
whole order of the procession was broken up. 
The bier I could not discern, nor could I com- 
prehend how the solemnity of the march of the 
funeral train was so suddenly changed to a con- 
fused multitude, rending the sky with loud 
acclamations. The whole body of people was 
pressing back toward the city. 

The persons whom I had first seen running 
along the street now made themselves audible as 
they drew nigher. 

**He is alive! he is alive!’’ shouted Elec. 

**He has been raised from the dead!’’ cried the 
young man next behind him. 

**He lives, and is walking back to the city!’’ 
called the third, to those who, like me, had run 
to their housetops to know the meaning of the 
uproar we heard. 

**Who—who is alive?’’ I eagerly demanded of 
Elec, as he passed beneath the parapet. ‘‘What 
is this shouting, O Elec?’’ 

He looked up to me with a face expressive of 
the keenest delight, mixed with awe, and said: 

*“Young Rabbi Samuel is come to life! He is 
no longer dead. You will soon see him, for they 
are escorting him back to the city; and every- 
body is mad with joy. Where is Ruth, the 
maiden? I am come to tell her the glorious 
news.’’ 

With emotion that I cannot describe, hardly 
believing what I heard, I hastened to Ruth, in 
order to prevent the effects of too-sudden joy. 
Upon reaching the apartment, I found that the 
voice of Elec, who had shouted the news of whicb 


236 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAYID 


he was the bearer in her ears, had roused her 
from her stupor of grief. She was looking at 
him wildly and incomprehensively. I ran to her, 
and folding her in my arms, said: 

‘‘Dear Ruth, there is news—good news! It 
must be true! Hear the shouts of gladness in all 
the town!’’ 

‘‘Lives!’? she repeated, shaking her head; 
**No, no, no! Yes, there!’’ she said, raising her 
beautiful, glittering eyes to heaven, and pointing 
upward. 

‘*But on earth also,’’ cried Elec, with positive- 
ness. ‘‘I saw him sit up, and heard him speak, 
as well as ever he was!’’ 

**How was it? Let me know,’’ I cried. 

“‘How? Who could have done such a miracle 
but the mighty Prophet we saw at Jerusalem ?’’ 
he answered. 

‘‘Jesus?’’ I exclaimed with joy. 

‘*Who else could it be? Yes; he met the bier 
just outside the— But here they come!’’ 

Hlec was interrupted in his narrative by the 
increased noise of voices in the streets, and the 
tramp of hundreds of feet. The next moment 
the room was filled with a crowd of the most 
excited persons, some weeping, some laughing, 
as if beside themselves. ‘In their midst I beheld 
Samuel walking, alive and well, his mother 
clinging to him, like a vine about an oak. 

‘“Where is Ruth?’’ he cried. ‘‘Oh! where is 
she? Letmemake her happy with my presence.”’ 

I gazed upon him with awe, as if I had seen a 
spirit. 

Ruth no sooner heard his voice than she uttered 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. | 237 


a shriek of joy. ‘‘He lives—he indeed lives!’’ 
and springing forward, she was saved from fall- 
ing to the ground by being clasped to his manly 
breast. 

‘*Let us kneel and thank God!’’ he said. 

For a few moments the scene was solemn and 
touching, beyond any spectacle ever exhibited 
on earth. The newly-risen from the dead knelt 
in the midst of the floor, with his mother on his 
right, leaning her head upon his shoulder, and 
Ruth clasped in his left arm, and fast embracing 
him, as if he were an angel, who would else 
spread his wings and ascend, leaving her behind. 
Mary and I knelt by her side, while all the peo- 
ple bowed their heads in worship, as he lifted up 
his voice in grateful acknowledgments to the 
Giver of life and health, for restoring both to 
him. When he had performed this first sacred 
duty, he rose to his feet, and received all our 
embraces. Hundreds came in to see his face, 
and every tongue was eloquent in praise of the 
power of Jesus. 

‘And where is this holy Prophet?’’ I asked of 
Mary. ‘‘Shall he be forgotten amid all our joy ?”’ 

‘*We thanked him there with all our hearts, 
and bathed his hands with tears of gratitude,’’ 
she answered; ‘‘but when they would have 
brought him into the city in triumph, he con- 
veyed himself away in the confusion, and no one 
could see aught of him. But John, who was 
with him, told me he would come into the city 
after quiet was restored, by and by, and he 
would bring him to our abode.”’ 

**Oh! I shall then behold him, and thank him 


238 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


also,’? I cried. ‘‘Make known to me, Mary, the 
particulars of this wonderful miracle,’’ I asked 
of her; for though I saw Samuel now seated, and 
eating in the room, served by his glad mother 
and the happy Ruth, while all looked on, to see 
if he really ate, and though I believed in the 
power of Jesus to do all things, yet I could 
hardly realize that he whom I had seen carried 
out a dead man on his bier, I beheld now seated 
at table partaking of food, alive and well. 

**T will tell thee all,’’ answered Mary, whose 
face shone with a holy light, radiating from her 
intense happiness; and leading me apart, she 
said: 

‘‘As we went weeping forth, slowly following 
the bier, and had passed the gate, we saw com- 
ing along the path through the valley leading to 
Tabor, a party of twelve or thirteen men on foot. 
They were followed by a crowd of men, women, 
and children from the country, and were so moy- 
ing that they would meet us at the crossing of 
the stone bridge. Hearing some one say, ‘It is the 
Prophet of Nazareth, with his disciples,’ I looked 
earnestly forward, and joyfully recognized Jesus 
at their head, with John walking by his side. 

** *Oh, that Jesus had been in Nain, when thy 
son was sick!’ I said to the widow, pointing him 
out to her, as the Prophet and his company 
stopped at the entrance to the bridge, and drew 
to one side, for the way was too narrow for both 
parties to cross at the same time. Upon looking 
up and seeing him, and marking his benign coun- 
tenance, and how sorrowfully he gazed upon her, 
and recollecting how he might have prevented 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 239 


her son’s dying, had he been in Nain, the poor 
lady could no longer command her grief, which 
broke forth afresh; and covering her face with 
her veil, she wept so violently that all eyes were 
piteously fastened upon her. I observed that the 
holy Prophet’s rested upon her with compassion ; 
and as the widow came opposite where he stood, 
he advanced a step toward us, and said in a voice 
of thrilling sympathy: 

*“*Weep not, mother. Thy son shall live 
again!’ 

** *T know it, O Rabboni, at the last day,’ she 
answered. ‘He was so noble—so young—he was 
all to me, and had been so long absent in far 
lands, only to come home to die. I know that 
thou art a Prophet come from God, and that all 
good works follow thee. Oh, if thou hadst been 
here, my son need not have died. Thy word 
would have healed him. But now he is dead: 
dead! dead!’ 

‘*The bereaved mother then poured forth her 
tears afresh. 

‘* “Daughter, weep not. I will restore thy 
son!’ 

‘* “What saith he?’ cried some Pharisees who 
were in the funeral; ‘that he will raise a dead 
man? This is going too far.’ And they smiled 
~ and scoffed. 

‘*But Jesus laid his hand upon the pall over 
the body, and said to those who bare the bier: 

** “Rest the bier upon the ground.’ 

‘They instantly stood still and obeyed him. 
He then advanced amid a hushed silence, and 
uncovering the marble visage, touched the hand 


240 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


of the dead young man, and said in a loud and 
commanding voice: 

“* “Young man, I say unto thee, Arise!’ 

‘‘There was a moment’s'. painful stillness 
through the vast multitude. Every eye was 
fixed upon the bier. His voice was heard by the 
spirit of the dead, and it came back to his body. 
There was a visible a living, a trembling emotion 
of the hitherto motionless corpse! color flushed 
the livid cheek; the eyelids opened, and he fixed 
his eyes on Jesus; he raised his hand, his lips 
moved; he sat up on the bier, and then spake 
aloud in his natural voice, saying: 

** ‘Lo! here I am.’ 

*‘Jesus then took him by the hand, and assist- 
ing him to alight upon his feet, he led him to 
his mother, and delivered him to her, saying: 
“Woman, behold thy son!’ 

‘‘Upon seeing this miracle, the people shouted 
with joy and wonder, and there came a great fear 
on us all; and lifting up their voices, they who 
so lately mourned and bewailed the dead, glori- 
fied God, saying, ‘God has indeed visited his 
people Israel. A great Prophet is risen up 
among us. The Messias is come, and Jesus is 
very Christ, with the keys of death and hell.’ 

‘“With such words and exclamations, and great 
shouts of rejoicing, the multitude surrounded 
the restored young man, and proceeded to escort 
him back to the city; the great mass of the peo- 
ple being attracted more by the raised-to-life 
than by the august person by whose act it had 
been done. I sought out Jesus to cast myself at 
his feet, but he shrank from the homage and 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 241 


gratitude which his mercy to us had awakened. 
Thus, humility is an element of all power. ”’ 

Such, my dear father, is the narrative of the 
restoration to life again of Samuel, the son of 
Sarah, of Nain. I give it to you in its simple 
outlines. It will not fail to command your belief. 
The miracle was performed in open day, in the 
presence of thousands. The opposers of Jesus, 
the hostile Scribes and Pharisees, do not deny 
the miracle, for they were convinced of the 
reality of the death of the young man; for he 
died, as I have before said, of the plague, and 
his corpse was a loathsome sight to those who 
beheld it; yet, wonderful to relate, when he was 
restored to life by the power of Jesus, he sat up 
free from all external signs of the putrid disease, 
his skin fair and smooth, and his whole aspect 
that of ruddy health and manly beauty. Noman 
could doubt, therefore, that a miracle had been 
performed, and of the most extraordinary kind; 
for never was it heard before that the dead were 
restored to life. This miracle of restoration 
from the dead of Samuel, the widow’s son, has 
caused hundreds this day to confess his name, 
and to believe in him as the anointed Shiloh of 
Israel. 

Since writing the above, I have conversed with 
Samuel upon the consciousness which he had of 
being dead. He replies that it seemed to him 
that he had been in a dream, the chain of which 
was now broken, and could not be recollected 
again. ‘‘Fragments,’’ said he, ‘‘of a delightful 
condition; of splendor; of glory and bliss; of 
music ineffable, and scenes indescribable, passed 


242 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


before my mind for a few moments after stand- 
ing upon my feet; but they presently melted 
away, and I can now only recollect that there 
were such! When I found myself upon the bier, 
I felt no surprise; for the fact that I was being 
taken to my burial seemed instinctively to pre- 
sent itself to my reanimated consciousness. ’” 
Many of the doctors have been to see him 
through the day, and have put profound ques- 
tions to him touching the state of the soul out of 
the body; but he could give them no satisfac- 
tion, all appearing to him like shining fragments 
of a gorgeous vision. 

Jesus came into the town during the evening, 
and abode with us. You should have witnessed 
how the gratitude of the happy mother, and of 
the no less happy Ruth, exhibited itself. They 
anticipated his every wish, and seemed to desire 
that he had a thousand wants, that they might 
administer to them. But his life is simple—his 
wants few. He thinks little of comforts; and so 
that he can speak of the kingdom of God to those 
about him, he forgets to partake of the food 
before him. We also forget all things else when 
he speaks, and stand or sit around him, drinking 
in the rich eloquence of his wise lips. The more 
I see of him, dear father, the more Istand in awe 
of him, and love him. 

Mary is to-morrow to become the bride of 
John, and Jesus will be present at the wedding, 
for while he severely rebukes sin and folly, he 
sanctifies by his presence the holy rite of mar- 
riage, which God ordained. Next month, the 
seventh day of the month, the happy Ruth con- 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 243 


sents to give her hand to the noble youth whom 
she has so wonderfully received alive from the 
dead. 

On the eve of the seventh day I shall depart 
hence, with John and Mary, for Jerusalem, 
whence I will write you again. 

Your loving daughter, 
ADINA. 


244 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


LETTER XXII. 


Once more, my dear father, I address a letter 
to you from this holy city. This morning when 
IT awoke at the sound of the silver trumpets of 
the priests, ringing melodiously from the top of 
Mount Moriah, I experienced anew that profound 
devotion which the children of Abraham must 
always feel in the city of God, and in the pres- 
ence of His very Temple. AslIascended the roof 
of the house to prayer, the gorgeous pile of the 
Temple towered heavenward from the summit of 
Moriah, in fall the magnificence of its celestial 
beauty. The azure wreaths of incense were 
already curling upward into the still skies, while 
the murky cloud sent up by the burnt sacrifice 
rolled darkly above the pinnacle, casting an 
awful shade over all the Temple. As it sailed 
slowly onward, and hung above the valley of 
Kedron, the sun rose and gilded its massive 
edges as if they had been turned out with gold. 
Louder and clearer rang the trumpets, and every 
housetop soon had its group of worshipers, 
while along the streets rolled the tide of people, 
some leading lambs, others driving goats before 
them, others carrying doves in their bosoms, to 
be offered to the Lord by the priest. It was a 
joyous morning to me, dear father, for Aimilius, 
the noble Roman Prefect, was this day volun- 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 245 


tarily to present himself at the Temple to be 
made a proselyte to the holy faith of Israel. [I 
will not now detain you by recording the argu- 
ments by which he was led to renounce idolatry 
and become a Jew! Pilate, the Procurator, 
favored, instead of opposing it, believing that it 
would conciliate the Jews in favor of the Romans; 
he resolved, therefore, to grace the rite with his 
presence. I could see him proudly rolling 
onward toward the Temple in his gilded chariot, 
escorted by a score of guards, blazing in their 
Grecian cuirasses. I sought in vain the form of 
Aimilius; but he reached the Temple by another 
street. The morning was, therefore, additionally 
lovely to me. I thought I had never seen the 
olive groves on the hillside beyond the king’s 
gardens so green, nor the harvest so yellow, as 
they undulated in the soft breeze of the opening 
morn. The lofty palms everywhere appeared to 
bend and wave their verdant fans with joyous 
motion. The birds in the palace gardens sang 
sweeter and louder; and Jerusalem itself seemed 
more beautiful than ever. While I was gazing 
upon the scene, and adoring God, and thanking 
him for the conversion of Aimilius, Rabbi Amos 
came and said that he would take us to the 
Temple, for he was at leisure on that morning. 
We were soon on our way climbing the paved 
pathway to Moriah. Oh, how sublimely towered 
the divine Temple above our heads, seemingly 
lost in the blue of the far heaven!. The great 
gates opening North and South to the East and 
West were thronged with the multitude pressing 
through; while from the galleries above each 


246 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


gate pealed forth the clear-voiced trumpets of 
God in ceaseless reverberation. My uncle 
pointed out to me the massive doors, all overlaid 
with sheets of beaten gold, and the floor of green 
marble on which we trod. He bade me notice 
the costly entablature of colored stones, exqui- 
sitely worked with the Grecian’s chisel; and 
especially the roof of fretted silver, set with 
precious stones, the onyx, beryl, sapphire, car- 
buncle, and jasper. Iwas dazzled by the mag- 
nificence, and awed by the vast extent of the 
space of splendor surrounding me; while tens 
of thousands of people were to be seen moving 
toward the altar of sacrifice. From that superb 
court I was led into a hall nearly a hundred 
cubits in length, its ceiling of pure gold sus- 
tained by a thousand and one columns of por- 
phyry and white marble, ranged alternately. 
Such richness I had never conceived of, or 
thought possible on earth. But when Rabbi 
Amos explained that they all were made after 
patterns of heavenly things, I ceased to marvel, 
and only wished I might one day dwell in those 
celestial abodes, where, the holy Jesus teaches 
us, are mansions not made with hands, of endless 
duration, reserved for all the good and virtuous. 

f was not permitted to approach the sacred 
chamber, where stood the four thousand vessels of 
gold of Ophir, used in the sacrifices on great 
days; and this being a high day, I saw no less ~ 
than six hundred priests standing about the altar, 
each with a golden censer in his hand. Beyond 
was the holy ark of the covenant, over which the 
cherubim hovered, their wings meeting, and be- 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. RAY 


tween them is the mercy-seat! As this was the 
Holy of Holies I was not permitted to see it; but 
is position was pointed outto me within the veil 
which conceals from all eyes but that of the High 
Priest once a year, the seat of God’s throne on 
the earth, alas, now left vacant since the glory of 
the Shechinah departed from the Holy of Holies. 

The air of the vast Temple was delicious with 
the fragrance of burning frankincense. As the 
victims bled, and the smoke ascended, the people 
fell on their faces and worshiped God. It was 
an impressive scene, and made my heart stand 
still. I seemed to expect to hear the voice of 
Jehovah breaking the stillness that followed. 
But after a few moments’ silence, a sudden 
trumpet note thrilled every soul in the countless 
multitude. It was followed by a peal of music 
that shook the air from a choir of two thousand 
singers, male and female, of the sons and daugh- 
ters of Levi, who served inthe Temple. Enter- 
ing from the southern court, they advanced in 
long procession, singing sacred chants, and play- 
ing on sacbut and harp, psalter and nebble, 
chinna and tympana. As they ascended to the 
choir their voices, mingling with the instru- 
ments, filled all the Temple. I never heard 
before such sublime harmony; especially when, 
on reaching the elevated choir, a thousand 
Levites, with manly voices, joined them, and the 
whole company chanted one of the sublimest of 
the Psalmg of David. I was overcome—my 
senses dissolved in a sea of seraphic sounds; my 
heart swelled as if it would break, and I found 
relief only in a flood of tears. 


248 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


When the chant was concluded, the whole 
multitude responded, ‘‘Amen, and Amen,’’ like 
the deep voice of an earthquake suddenly shak- 
ing the foundations of the Temple. 

At length I beheld a train of priests following 
the High Priest as he marched thrice around the 
altar. In that procession I discovered a com- 
pany of proselytes, escorted by twelve aged 
priests, with long snowy beards, and in vestments 
of the purest white. Among the proselytes, 
which numbered full a score of men from almost 
every nation, I detected the tall and noble figure 
of the Roman Aimilius. Hewas robed in a black 
garment from head to foot. But upon approach- 
ing the baptismal basin, two young priests 
removed this sable dress, and robed him in 
white. I then saw him baptized into the family 
of Abraham, and a new name given him, that of 
Eleazer. I heard the silver trumpets proclaim 
the conversion, and the multitudes shouting 
their joy! 

Of the rest of the ceremony I have no recollec- 
tion, as, after the baptism of Aimilius, I was too 
happy to see or think of any one else. ‘There 
stands now, dear father, no further bar to our 
union. Aimilius is become a Jew, and hence- 
forth will worship the God of our fathers! I 
know you said in your last letter to me that you 
feared the noble young Roman was led by his at- 
tachment to me to renounce his religion, and not 
from honest conviction of its truth and of its false- 
hood. But I am assured, dear father, that he 
acts from conviction. The conversations he has 
had with me, and with Rabbi Amos, and other of 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 249 


the learned doctors of our nation, whom he has 
met at our house, with the careful reading of the 
Scriptures of the Prophets, have not only con- 
vinced him that the Lord God of Israel is the 
only God of the whole earth, but that the wor- 
shipers of idols are the worshipers of Satan, who 
hath set up that religion in opposition to that of 
the true God. 

While I was lifting up my heart in gratitude 
for the happy conversion of Admilius, and while 
the Jews were crowding about him to extend to 
him the hand of fellowship, rejoicing that so 
noted a person should embrace our faith, Uncle 
Amos drew my attention by exclaiming with 
gladness: 

‘Behold! there is Jesus!’’ 

‘“Where?’’ I cried, trying to discover the 
divine Prophet among the multitude. 

‘Standing by yonder pillar of porphyry. 
John is on one side of him and Peter on the 
other. He is pointing to the altar, and explain- 
ing or teaching them something. Let us try and 
approach him!’’ 

We at once made our way, but with difficulty, 
toward the spot where we had discovered him. 
The rumor that the Christ was in the Temple 
rapidly spread, and the whole multitude pressed 
toward the same point. At length, we attained 
our object so as to get within a few feet of him. 
Here a tall, richly attired Greek addressed Rabbi 
Amos, saying: 

**Sir, tell me who that youthful Jew is whose 
countenance is stamped with firmness and benevo- 
lence so finely combined in its expression; whose 


250 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


air possesses such dignity and wisdom; whose 
noble eye seems filled with a holy sadness, and 
whose glance is full of innocence and sweetness. 
He seems born to love men and to command 
them. Ali seek to approach him. Pray, sir, 
who is he?’’ 

“That, O stranger, is Jesus of Nazareth, the 
Jewish Prophet,’’ said Uncle Amos, delighted to 
point him out to a foreigner. 

‘“Then am I well rewarded for my journey in 
turning aside to Jerusalem,’’ answered the 
Grecian. ‘‘I have even heard of his fame in 
Macedonia, and am _ rejoiced to behold him. 
Think you he will do some great miracle ?’’ 

‘He performs miracles not to gratify curiosity, 
but to bear testimony to the truths he teaches 
that they are delivered to him of God. Hark! 
He speaks,’’ cried my uncle. 

Every voice was hushed, as that of Jesus rose 
clear and sweet, and thrilling, like a celestial 
clarion speaking. And he preached, dear father, 
a sermon so full of wisdom, of love to man, of 
love to God, of knowledge of our hearts, of divine 
and convincing power, that thousands wept; 
thousands were chained to the spot with awe and 
delight, and all were moved asif an angel had 
addressed them. They cried, ‘‘Never man spake 
like this man!’’ and certainly never human lips 
dispensed such wisdom. 

When he had ended, the priests, seeing that he 
had carried the hearts of all the people, were 
greatly enraged, and not being able to vent their 
hatred and fear in any other way, they hired a 
vile person by the name of Gazeel, a robber, to 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. ROL 


take one of the blood-stained sacrificing knives 
from the altar, and creep toward him behind the 
column, and assassinate him. The robber drew 
near, and taking a favorable position to execute 
the deed, raised his hand to strike the Prophet 
from behind, when Jesus, turning his head, 
arrested the hand of the assassin in midair by a 
look! Unable to move a muscle, Gazeel stood 
betrayed to all eyes in this murderous attitude, 
like a statue of stone. 

When Jesus had exhibited him to all the vast 
concourse in this manner for afew minutes, he 
said to him: 

**Return to those who hired thee. My hour is 
not yet come; nor can they have any power over 
me until my Father’s will be fulfilled concerning 
me.’”’ 

The assassin bowed his head with deep humil- 
ity; the knife dropped from his hand and rang 
upon the marble floor; and he sank at Jesus’ 
feet, imploring forgiveness. The people would 
have torn Gazeel in pieces, but Jesus said: 

*“Let him depart in peace. The day shall 
come when he will be willing to lay down his life 
to save mine. Ye, priests, go about to kill me,”’ 
he added, fixing his clear gaze upon the group 
which had sent Gazeel. ‘‘For what do ye seek 
my life? Because I bear testimony to the wick- 
edness of your own. Ye lay heavy burdens on 
the people, and will not lift them with one of 
your fingers. I have cometo my own, and to my 
Temple, and ye receive me not. The day cometh. 
when this Temple shali be thrown down, and not 
one stone left upon another; and some who hear 


252 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


me shall behold and mourn in that day. Oh, 
Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and 
stonest them that are sent unto thee, how oft 
would I have gathered thy children together, as 
a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, 
and ye would not. Thou shalt be left desolate 
and cast out from among cities, because thou 
_knewest not the day of thy visitation. But ye, 
who would escape these troubles, seek to enter 
my kingdom, which shall have no end; fly to the 
Jerusalem which is above, and which is above 
all, whose foundation is eternal, and whose 
Temple is the Lord God Almighty, who is also 
the light and glory thereof.’’ 

Upon hearing these words, there arose a great 
ery from ten thousand voices: 

-**Hail to Jesus, the king of Israel and Judah! 
Hosanna to the Prince of David! We will have 
no king but Jesus.’’ 

At this shout, which was caught and repeated 
beyond the four gates of the Temple, the priests 
cried aloud that the people were in insurrection. 

Pilate, who was, with his guard, just leaving ° 
the Court of the Gentiles, hearing it, turned to 
ask what it meant. One of the priests, desirous 
of having Jesus slain, quickly answered, ‘‘That 
the people had proclaimed Jesus, the Nazarene, 
king,’’ and that he was already placing himself 
at the head of the people. 

Hearing this, Pilate sent off messengers to the 
Castle of David for soldiers, and with his body- 
guard turned back to the Temple-gate, charging 
the people sword in hand. 

The tumult was now fearfui, and the bloodshed 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 253 


would have been great, but Jesus suddenly ap- 
peared before him—none saw how he had reached 
the place—and said: 

‘‘There is no insurrection, O Roman! I am 
Jesus. I seek no kingdom but such as my 
Father hath given me. Neither thy power, nor 
thy master’s, is in peril. My kingdom is not ot 
this world.’’ 

Pilate was seen to bend his proud head with 
low obeisance before the Prophet, and said 
graciously : 

**T have no wish to arrest thee. Thy word, O 
Prophet, is sufficient for me. Of thee I have 
hitherto heard much. Wilt thou come with me 
to my palace, and let me hear thee, and see some 
miracles ?”’ 

‘‘Thou shalt see me in thy palace, but not to- 
day; and thou shalt behold a miracle, but not 
now.’”’ 

When Jesus had thus said, he withdrew him- 
self from Pilate’s presence; and those who would 
have sought him to make him a king could 
nowhere discover him. 

The result of this attempt of the people to 
make the Prophet their king, and under his di- 
rection to overthrow the Roman power, has been 
that the Roman authorities, instigated by Annas 
and the priests, begin to look upon Jesus with 
eyes of jealousy; and Pilate this morning told a 
deputation of priests, who waited on him to peti- 
tion him to arrest and imprison the Prophet 
that on the first proof they could bring him of 
his hostility to Cesar, he would send soldiers to 
take him. To-day Jesus was refreshing himself 


204 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


in our house, when several Scribes and Pharisees 
came in. Isaw by their dark looks they medi- 
tated evil; and secretly sent Elec with a message 
to AAmilius (now Eleazer), asking him to be at 
hand to protect Jesus; for Aumilius is devoted to 
him as we are, and Jesus takes delight in teach- 
ing him the things of the kingdom of God. 

Jesus, knowing the hearts of these bad men, 
said to them, after they had seated themselves, 
and remained some minutes in silence: 

‘“Wherefore are ye come?’’ 

‘“Master,’’ said Jehoram, one of the chief 
Scribes, ‘‘we know that thou art a Teacher come 
from God, and fearest no man, nor regardest the 
person of any man.’”’ 

‘*Yes,’’ added Zadoc, a Levite of great fame 
among the people, ‘‘we have heard how boldly 
thou speakest at all times; and that thou shrink- 
est from no man’s power—not even Pilate, nor 
Herod, nay, nor Cesar, could make thee refrain 
from what thou willest to utter. Is it lawful for 
us Jews, the peculiar nation of God, to pay 
tribute to Cesar, who is an idolater? Is it law- 
ful for us to obey the laws of Pilate, rather than 
of Moses? We ask this as JewstoaJdew. Tell 
us frankly; for thou fearest not the face of any 
man.’”’ 

‘Let the question rest simply upon the tribute 
to the Romans,’’ answered Jehoram. ‘‘ Master, 
ought we, the holy nation, to give tribute to the 
Epmeror Cesar?’ 

Jesus looked fixedly upon them, as if he read 
their wicked designs, and said: 

‘<Show me the tribute money.”’ 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 255 


Zadoc handed him a penny, the Roman coin 
sent into Judea by Cesar, as our currency, and 
which we return to Rome again in tribute. 
When Jesus had taken the money, he looked on 
the head of Augustus stamped upon one side, and 
then turning to them, as they waited breathlessly 
for his answer, said sternly: 

*“Whose image and whose name is here im- 
pressed ?’’ 

**Ceesar’s,’’ eagerly answered the whole party. 

‘*Then render unto Cesar the things that be 
Cesar’s, and unto God the things that be God’s,’’ 
was his calm and wonderful answer. 

I breathed again; for I feared he would answer 
openly that tribute ought not to be paid, which 
they hoped he would do, when they would im- 
mediately have accused him to Pilate as teaching 
that we ought not to pay tribute to Rome, and so 
a fomenter of rebellion. 

But the divine wisdom of his answer relieved 
all our minds; while the Scribes and Levites, his 
enemies, looked upon him with amazement, inter- 
changed glances of conscious defeat, and left the 
house. 

Such, dear father, is his wisdom that his 
enemies cannot triumph over him. Oh, that you 
could see him and hear him. It is worth a visit 
from Egypt: to Jerusalem to see and listen to 
him, and behold his miracles, of which he every 
day performs one or more; till disease, deform- 
ity, leprosy and sickness, seem to have disap- 
peared from Jerusalem and all Judea. 

When Amilius arrived, and found Jesus alone 
with our family, unharmed, he spoke freely his 
satisfaction. 


256 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


‘* Hmilius,’’ said Jesus to him, ‘‘thou art now 
become a Jew. One step more, and thou shalt 
enter the kingdom of heaven.’’ 

‘“What step, dear master?’’ he asked earnestly. 

‘“Thou must be baptized with the Holy Ghost, 
and thou shalt be partaker of eternal life.’’ 

**Rabboni,’’ said Almilius, “‘I verily thought 
that to be baptized a proselyte of thy people was 
to be Moses’ disciple, and to have the seal to life 
eternal. Have I still more to do?’’ 

‘*To be my disciple, Aimilius. Iam the end 
of the Law of Moses. He that believeth in me, 
though he were dead, yet shall he live. I give 
eternal life to as many as believe in me. But 
thou knowest not now what I say; thou shalt 
know hereafter. ’’ 

/Emilius would have questioned him further, 
but Jesus left him, and went forth into the gar- 
den, where he remained late at night in medita- 
tion and prayer. 

I am rejoiced, dear father, that you permit me 
to accompany my Uncle Amos to Cesarea. We 
leave after the new moon. Believing, my dearest 
father, that all I have written you touching Jesus 
has not been in vain, and that you are, with me 
and thousands in Israel, ready to believe him 
that he is the Christ, the Deliverer of Jacob, 

I remain your affectionate daughter, 
ADINA. 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. QT 


LETTER XXIII. 


My Dear Farner: I have received with joy 
your letter, in which you say you shall leave 
Egypt with the next passover caravan, in order 
to visit Jerusalem. Already you must be on the 
way, and are by this time near Gaza, where my 
uncle Amos says the caravan will halt to-morrow 
night. My heart bounds to embrace you, and 
my eyes fill with bright tears at the thought that 
I shall once more gaze upon your noble counte- 
nance, and hear the loved tones of your paternal 
voice. My happiness is augmented to know that 
you will be here while Jesus is in the city; for it 
is said, and John, Mary’s cousin, asserts it, that 
he will certainly be at the Passover. I wish, 
dear father, oh, I wish you to see him, because I 
feel that you would be unable to resist the con- 
viction that he is the very Messias of God, of 
whom Moses and the Prophets wrote. But if his 
words, that divine eloquence and wisdom which 
flow from his sacred lips, do not convince you, 
the miracles he will do in proof of his mission 
will be resistless. These miracles are daily be- 
coming more and more mighty and amazing. 
For himself, for his own aggrandizement, and 
personal safety (for often has his hfe been put in 
peril by his foes), he never resorts to this divine 
power; but to give attestation to his words of 


208 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


truth that he came from God, to heal the suffer- 
ing, to relieve the distressed, he daily performs 
them. If man never spake like him, man never 
worked wonders such as he works. He has con- 
verted water into wine; healed by a word the 
dying son of the nobleman, Chuza, Herod’s first 
officer of his household, though many leagues 
from him at the time; he stilled a fearful tempest 
on the sea of Tiberius, by speaking to it and 
commanding peace! In the country of the 
Gadarenes he cast out unclean spirits from many 
demoniacs, who, in coming out of the bodies of 
“hose they had _ possessed, acknowledged his 
power, and confessed him, as if against their 
will, to be the Christ, the son of David. Of the 
raising of the daughter of the ruler Jairus, and 
of the son of the widow at Nain, I have already 
written you. Besides these miracles of healing 
and raising from the dead, he has been seen 
walking upon the sea a league from the shore, as 
firmly as if he trod upon a floor of porphyry; 
which many of the fishermen seeing, they were 
filled with terror, and made all sail to flee to the 
land, where they spread it abroad. He has re- 
stored sight to the blind, whose eyes were wholly 
gone; and created new limbs where legs and arms 
had been lost for years. Last week, Eli the 
paralytic, whom you knew, a scribe of the 
Levites, whose hand has been withered nine 
years, so that he had been dependent on the alms 
of the worshipers in the Temple for his bread, 
hearing of the power of Jesus, sought him at the 
house of Uncle Amos, where he was abiding; for 
it was our blessed privilege to have him our 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 209 


guest, for John, his beloved disciple, being be- 
trothed to the fair daughter of Uncle Amos, my 
gentle cousin Mary, always led the Prophet to 
our house. 

Jesus was reclining with our family at the 
evening meal, at the close of the day on which 
the uproar had taken place in the Temple, as 
described in my last letter but one, when Eli 
came and stood within the door. Humble and 
doubting, his knees trembled, and he timidly 
and wistfally looked toward Jesus, but did not 
speak. I knew at once what the afflicted man 
came for, and approached him, saying, ‘‘Fear 
not, Eli; ask him, and he will make thee whole!’’ 

**Ah, lady, I fear it is too much happiness for 
me to expect. Itis more than I dare dream of. 
But I have come to him, hoping.’’ His voice 
trembled, and tears dropped from his eyes, as he 
thought of his family in poverty, and of his own 
helplessness. ‘‘How shall I speak to the great 
Prophet, daughter—I, a beggar at the gate of 
. the Temple? Speak for me, and the Lord shall 
bless thee, child. My tongue cleaves to the root 
of my mouth!”’ 

Jesus did not see the poor man, his face being 
turned toward Rabbi Amos, to whom he was 
explaining the meaning of the sacrifice of Abel. 
But leaving this conversation, he said, in a 
gentle voice, without turning round: 

“‘Come to me, Eli, and ask what is in thy 
heart, and fear not; for if thou believest, thou 
shalt receive all thy wish!’’ 

At this Eli ran forward, and casting himself at 
Jesus’ feet, kissed them and said: ‘‘Rabbi, I am 


260 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


a poor, sinful man; I believe that thou art the 
Christ, the Son of the Blessed!’’ 

*“Dost thou believe, Eli, that I have power to 
make thee whole?’’ asked Jesus, looking steadily 
upon him. 

**I believe, my Lord,’’ answered Eli, bowing 
his face to the ground. 

‘‘Thy sins, then, be forgiven thee. Rise and 
go to thy house, and sin no more, lest a worse 
thing come upon thee.”’ 

‘‘This man! forgiveth he sins also?’’ cried the 
venerable priest, Manasses, who was at the table. 
‘‘He is a blasphemer! for God alone forgiveth 
sins. Will he call himself God?’’ And he rose 
quickly up and rent his robe, and spat upon the 
floor in detestation. 

‘“Manasses,’’ said Jesus mildly, ‘‘tell me 
whether is it an easier thing to do: to say to this 
man kneeling here, ‘Thy sins be forgiven thee,’ 
or to say, ‘Stretch forth thine hand whole as the 
other?’ ”’ 

‘*Tt would be more difficult to do the latter,’’ 
answered Manasses, surprised at the question. 

‘“Who alone can do the latter, oh, priest ?’’ 

‘“‘God alone, who first made him,’’ answered 
Manasses, gazing upon the withered arm, which, 
shriveled to the bone, hung useless at his side. 

‘**Tf, then, God alone heals, and God alone for- 
giveth sins, both acts, Manasses, would be of 
God! Therefore,’’ said Jesus to the paralvtic, 
‘‘T say unto thee, Eli, stretch forth thy hand 
whole!’’ 

The man, looking upon Jesus’ face, and seem- 
ing to derive confidence from its expression of 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 261 


power, made a convulsive movement with his 
arm, which, his mantle falling off, was bared to 
the shoulder, exhibiting all its hideous deform- 
ity, and stretching it forth at full length. Im- 
mediately the arm was rounded with flesh and 
muscles; the pulse filled and leaped with the 
warm lifeblood, and it became whole as the 
other. The change was so instantaneous that it 
was done before we could see how it was done. 
The amazed and wonderingly delighted Eli bent 
his elbow, expanded and contracted the fingers, 
felt the flesh and pressed it with his other hand, 
refore he could realize that he was healed. And 
he then lifted up his voice in praise to Jehovah, 
and casting himself at the feet of the Prophet, 
cried: | 

**My Lord, and my God!”’ 

‘“Thou art now healed, Eli,’’ said Jesus, im- 
pressively; ‘‘go, and sin no more!’’ 

**“Master, thou knowest all things! Lo! my 
sin even was not hid from thee, though I believed 
no eye beheld it. Men and brethren,’’ he con- 
tinued, addressing those who were assembled, 
‘‘well did this holy Prophet of God say unto me, 
at the first, ‘my sins were forgiven,’ instead of 
bidding me stretch forth my hand; for it was a 
sin that brought on my paralysis, as a punish- 
ment for it. Ihad copied a parchment for the 
Levite, Phineas, the tax-gatherer for the Temple 
service, and wickedly altered a figure in an 
amount, by which I should be a gainer of four 
shekels of silver. Instantly upon writing the 
last figure, I felt a strcke of palsy, and my arm 
fel) dead at my side. It was God’s punishment. 


262 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


This was eight years ago. No eye knew the deed 
but God’s and my own; but I have repented it in 
deep humiliation. Therefore, as my withered 
arm was for the punishment of my sin, well did 
my Lord, the mighty Prophet, say unto me, ‘my 
sin was forgiven,’ for then would my punishment 
have been removed; for I felt already at his 
word the blood coursing through my parched 
veins!’’ 

Upon this frank acknowledgment, Manasses 
cried in amazement, ‘‘Truly, God is good to 
Israel. The hour of his promiseis come. Verily, 
oh, Jesus of Nazareth, thou art the Son of the 
Highest! Forgive a worm of the dust, and my 
sins also!’’ And the proud priest fell at Jesus’ 
feet, and bowed his snow-white locks upon them 
in adoration and reverence. 

If, then, dear father, the secret sins of men are 
known to Jesus; if he forgives sins as well as 
heals; if he removes the temporal penalties 
which God inflicts upon men for their iniquities, 
what name, what power, what excellence shall we 
give to him? Shall we not, with Hsaias, call 
him ‘‘the Wonderful, the Counselor, the Mighty 
God, the Prince of Peace, who shall sit upon the 
throne of David to establish it with justice and 
judgment henceforth, even forever?’’ ‘*‘Who,’’ 
I repeat with Manasses, ‘‘who forgiveth sins but 
God alone?’’ 

How shall Ibe able to remember and repeat all 
the other mighty works which Jesus has done in 
proof of his divine power! You must have heard 
how he fed, from a small basket of bread (the 
frugal provision which a lad had brought into 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 263 


the desert for his mother and his brothers,) 
no less than five thousand men, not naming 
the women and children. This vast multitude 
had followed him far from the cities to listen to 
his teachings; people of all classes and tongues, 
including not a few Roman captains. When the 
mighty host was an hungered, he caused them to 
sit down on the grass, and from the basket he 
took forth bread, inexhaustibly increasing unto 
his hand as he distributed; so that when all had 
eaten, there were gathered twelve times as much 
in fragments as the little basket originally held. 
Who, dear father, but Messias could do this 
miracle? He who could thus create bread at his 
will, is He not the Lord of the harvests of the 
earth? My mind is overwhelmed, my dear father 
—I am filled with astonishment and awe, when I 
reflect upon the might, power, and majesty of 
Jesus, and I fear te ask myselfi—who more than 
man is he? Is he verily the awful and terrible 
Jehovah of Sinai, visible in the human form? 
Oh, wondrous and incomprehensible mystery! a 
man with Almighty power, and manifesting the 
very attributes of Jehovah, the Lord of Hosts, 
walking the earth, conversing with men, dwelling 
in our habitations, eating and drinking with us, 
and sleeping with the peaceful helplessness of an 
infant beneath our roofs. I dare not trust my 
thoughts to penetrate the mystery in which he 
walks among us in the veiled Godhead of his 
power. His beloved disciple, John, says that 
Jesus has promised the day is not far off when 
this veil will be removed, and we shall then know 
him, who he is, and wherefore he has come inte 


264 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


the world, and the infinite results to men of his 
mission. 

The Passover is nigh at hand, when we shall 
again behold the majesty of his presence. I 
have just heard that Lazarus, the amiable brother 
of our cousins Mary and Martha, is taken sud- 
denly ill, and I close this letter in order to 
accompany my Cousin Mary and her father to 
Bethany, from whence they have sent us an 
earnest message of entreaty. May God preserve 
his life. 

Your devoted daughter, 
ADINA. 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 265 


LETTER XXIV. 


My Drar Farner: As I was closing my last 
letter to you, intelligence reached my Uncle 
Amos that Lazarus, the amiable brother of 
Martha and Mary, was very ill. The message 
was brought by Melec, the old Gibeonite slave, 
who, with tears in his eyes, communicated to us 
the sad news. My Cousin Mary and I at once 
set out to go to Bethany with him, Uncle Amos 
kindly offering his two mules for us to ride upon, 
promising himself to come out also after the 
evening service in the Temple, if Lazarus should 
be no better. 

We were soon beyond the city walls, on the 
road to Bethany, guided by the aged servant, who, 
every few minutes, would urge us to ride faster; 
and then lifting his hands and eyes, he would 
lament the danger of the young man, and the 
destitution of his sisters, should he be removed 
from them, he being, dear father, their only sup- 
port, as I once wrote you; his occupation being 
that of copying out rolls of the Prophets for the 
uses of the various synagogues. 

Although we did not expect to be able to do 
much by hastening to our dear relatives in their 
affliction, yet we hoped by our presence and 
heartfelt sympathy to relieve much of the solici- 
tude of the beloved sisters for their dear brother. 


266 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


‘“Knowest thou, Melec, the disease that has so 
suddenly seized my cousin?’’ asked Mary, as we 
wound slowly up the path that leads around the 
steepest side of Olivet. 

‘‘Ah, dear me, noble lady, I know not,’’ an- 
gwered Melec, shaking his head: ‘‘he had just 
returned from the city, where he had been stay- 
ing night and day for a week, laboring industri- 
ously to complete a copy of the Five Books of 
the blessed Moses for the Procurator’s chief cap- 
tain, for which he was to receive a large sum in 
Roman gold.’’ 

‘“What was the name of this captain who seeks 
to obtain our holy books?’’ I asked, hope half 
answering the question in my heart. 

‘*‘7#milius, the brave knight, they say, who 
was made a proselyte at the last Passover; the 
same who nearly captured the famous robber 
Barabbas, my lady.’’ 

I was rejoiced to hear this proof of the steady 
desire of the princely Roman knight to learn our 
sacred laws, you maybe assured, dearest father. 
But Melec went on speaking, and said: 

‘*It was his hard work to complete this copy 
which made him ill; for he slept not, nor ceased 
to toil until he had completed it; and when he 
came home with the silver-bound roll in his 
hand, and laid it upon the table before his sis- 
ters, he fell at the same moment fainting to the 
ground. When they raised him up, he was ina 
fierce fever, and raved so that he knew no one 
around him.’’ 

‘Alas, poor Lazarus!’’ we both exclaimed, 
and urged our mules forward ata faster pace, 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 267 


our hearts bleeding for the sorrow of his sisters, 
and for his sad condition. I have already told 
you, in a former letter, in which I described my 
visit to the house of Mary and Martha, what a 
noble and good young man their brother was— 
how he was beloved by all who knew him; and 
commanded the respect of his superiors by 
his dignity of bearing, while his manly beauty 
won the hearts of the maidens who were 
his sister’s friends. I told you how diligently 
he toiled for the maintenance of those dearly 
loved sisters and helpless mother, thinking 
only of their comfort, forgetful of ‘his own. 
I also related how that his many virtues had 
won for him the friendship of the equally 
youthful Prophet Jesus, who loved to make his 
abode his oiten-abiding place; and lofty must 
the virtues and exceilencies of a man be, dear 
father, to command the holy friendship of this 
man of God. Nearly of the same age, they 
walked and discoursed together in sweet com- 
panionship, like Jonathan and David in the 
golden age of our country’s glory. 

At length, an hour after leaving the gate of the 
city, we drew near to Bethany, and beheld the 
roof of the house of Lazarus. Upon it, watching 
toward Jerusalem for us, we discovered the 
graceful form of Mary, who no sooner saw us 
than she waved her hands in earnest longing. 
In a few moments we were in her arms, mingling 
our tears together. 

**Does he yet live?’’ I asked, scarcely daring 
to ask, as she led us into the house. 

“Yes, lives, but fails hourly,’’ answered Mary, 


268 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


with forced composure. ‘‘God bless you both 
for hastening to me.”’ 

At this moment Martha’s pale and suffering 
face, beautiful even in its pallor, appeared in the 
door of the inner room. Upon seeing us she ad- 
vanced, and taking both our hands in hers, she 
said in a touching whisper, ‘‘You have come, 
sweet friends, to see my brother die!’’ 

She then led us into the room, where lay upon 
a couch the form of the invalid, whose perilous 
condition had brought a pang to the hearts of so 
many dear and loving ones around him. Upon 
entering the apartment, he turned his lustrous 
eyes upon us, and seemed to recognize us, as he 
smiled faintly a grateful recognition. Noble and 
beautiful as his countenance was in health, I 
thought that its expression, with his brilliant 
eyes and feverish cheek, was now superhuman. 

‘‘He has slept a little,’’ said Martha, softly, to 
me; ‘‘but his fever is consuming him. He has 
closed his eyes again, and seems heavy; but his 
slumbers ‘are restless, as you see; and he seems 
to think his dear friend, Jesus the Prophet, is by 
him; or he talks of Ruth as if she were not 
present.’’ 

‘““And who is Ruth, dear Martha?’’ I asked, as 
I was about to follow her out of the room, leaving 
her brother to his weary repose. 

‘“Alas! it was for Ruth’s gentle love’s sake he 
now lies there,’’ she answered; ‘‘there is the 
sweet maiden kneeling on the other side of his 
eouch, her tearful face buried in the folds of the 
curtains of his couch. She leaves him not a 
moment; nay, though he does not seem to be 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID, 269 


sensible of her presence, yet when she has once 
or twice left the room, he awakes directly and 
calls for her.’’ 

I turned, and regarded with tender interest the 
graceful and half-concealed form of the young 
girl as she bent over his pillow, her hand clasped 
by his. At this moment she looked up, and di- 
rected her gaze toward me. Her face was inex- 
pressibly lovely, bathed as it was inits glittering 
tear dew, and her large, glorious eyes seemed 
like heavens of tenderness and love. Her hair 
would have been raven black, save that a golden 
bronze enriched its waving masses at every play 
of the light upon it. As our eyes met, she 
seemed to receive me into her soul, and my heart 
to embrace hers. Lazarus moved and murmured 
her name, and she dropped her eyes, and bent 
like an angel over him. 

‘“Who is this marvelously lovely maiden?’’ I 
asked of Martha, as we went out into the court of 
the hall. 

‘The betrothed bride of our beloved brother,’’ 
answered she; ‘‘sit with me here in the shade, 
beneath this vine, and I will tell thee their sad 
story. Lazarus, you know, dearest Adina, is a 
writer in the Temple, and by his labors has lived 
in humble competence, and surrounded us all 
with many comforts, nay, luxuries; for all we 
have, our mother and we owe to his filial and 
fraternal love. His attachment to us led him to 
forego the pleasure of all other society; for he 
said he found in our sweet bond of sisterly love 
all that he required to render him happy. He 
was therefore insensible to all the attractions of 


270 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


the maidens who are our acquaintances and 
friends; and when, a few months since, our 
mother was gathered to her fathers, he said he 
felt it more than ever his duty to devote his life to 
our happiness. We would fain have induced him 
to seek a companion for life, knowing his noble 
nature, and how he possessed in an eminent 
degree those amiable qualities which would 
render, as his wife, happy and honored, any 
daughter of Israel. But when urged by us, he 
would smile, and playfully say that he had but 
a very little heart, and that it would hold no 
more love than mine and Mary’s. 

‘*A few weeks ago, as he was engaged late and 
alone in the copying-room of the Temple upon a 
roll which the noble Aumilius had ordered, and 
which he desired to have completed on a certain 
day, and for which he was to give him a large 
sum, he was startled by the sudden entrance of a 
young girl in great terror, who seemed to be 
flying from pursuit. Upon beholding him she 
bounded toward him, and casting herself at his 
feet, implored his protection. Amazed and in- 
terested, he promptly promised it, but had 
hardly spoken the words before Annas entered 
and advanced toward her. His face was flushed 
with rage, and his voice was loud and fierce, as 
he demanded her at the hand of my brother. 

‘< “Nay, my lord Annas,’ answered Lazarus 
boldly; ‘were a dove to seek shelter from a hawk 
ir my bosom, 1 would protect it, much more a 
distressed maiden of the daughters of Abraham!’ 
and he placed himself before the fugitive. 

*< *Darest thou protect from me? She is my 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. rae § 


child, a wicked and disobedient daughter of 
Belial! Resign her to me, young scrivener, or I 
will have thee sent to the lowest dungeon of the 
castle of David.’ 

** “Oh, save me! save me!’ cried the young 
girl, as Annas advanced to seize her. ‘I am not 
his child! Iam the orphan of Rabbi Levi, who 
left me and my estate to this false priest as a 
sacred charge; and having done, I know not 
what, with my inheritance, he would sell me in 
unholy marriage to a Greek captain in the 
Roman Legion, who offers him large bribes in 
gold for me. And when but now he would have 
delivered me up to him, I fled to the altars of my 
God for the protection which man denied me; 
and, ignorant of the way, and lost in the laby- 
rinth of the Temple, Ifound myself here. Rather 
than be given into the hands of this fierce and 
terrible Grecian, whom I have seen only to 
dread, I will cast myself down from the height of 
the Temple!’ 

**And to the surprise and horror of Lazarus, 
she bounded from the lattice, and stood upon 
the edge of the rock, which looks sheer three 
hundred feet down into the valley beneath. 

** «Thou seest, oh, Annas, to what thy cupidity 
for gold will drive this maiden. Has the land of 
Israel sunk so low that its chief priest will sell 
the daughters of the land for gold to the lust of 
the Gentiles? Is this the way thou givest pro- 
tection to orphans? Leave her; and until I find 
a protector for her, she shall be a sacred guest 
with my sisters in their humble abode!’ 

** «Thy life shall pay for this arrogance, young 


272 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


man,’ answered the priest. ‘I have power over 
both, and will exercise it.’ 

** ‘Not to the danger and wrong of this maiden, 
my lord Annas, whom Jehovah will protect, since 
she has trustingly sought the sheltering wing of 
his altars,’ answered my brother firmly. ‘If you 
continue to persecute her I will appeal to the 
Procurator, Pontius Pilate, against thee. Thou 
already knowest, that Roman justice knows how 
to punish Jewish guilt with terrible severity.’ 

‘The result was,’’ continued Martha, ‘‘that the 
wicked priest, alarmed by the threat of appeal to 
Pilate, relinquished his present purpose, and left 
them, breathing menaces against my brother. 
The game day Lazarus conducted the maiden 
whom you already guess to be Ruth, to ow 
house; and she has since then been our guest, 
and has won all our hearts, as well as our dear 
brother’s. Pilate, to whom Lazarus appealed, 
has placed the shield of his protection between 
them and Annas. It was to obtain money to be 
able soon to wed Ruth that our brother has at 
length fallen a victim to his arduous toils, and 
now lies on the brink of the grave.”’ 

‘‘Is there no hope for him?’’ I asked, after 
listening to her touching narrative. 

‘“None! The physicians say that he will never 
rise again.’’ 

‘“There is one hope left,’’ I said eagerly. 

‘*What is that?’’ demanded Martha. 

‘‘Jesus!’’ I answered; ‘‘send to him, oh, 
Martha, and he will yet save him, and raise him 
up to life and health. ’’ 

I had no sooner spoken than Mary, who over- 
heard me, uttered a scream cf joy. 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 273 


**Yes, Jesus has the power to heal him, and 
Jesus loveshim! He will come and save him the 
moment he hears of his danger.’’ 

Immediately Mary wrote on a slip of parch- 
ment these brief and touching words: 


**Lord, behold he whom thou lovest is sick! 
Hasten to come to us that he may live; for 
nothing is impossible with thee.’’ 


This message was forthwith dispatched by the 
hands of a young friend to Bethabara, beyond 
Jordan, where we learn Jesus at present abides. 

We have, therefore, no hope for our dear rela- 
tive but in the power of the Prophet. I will 
write as soon as we hear. Dear father, 

Your attached daughter, 
ADINA. 


274 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


LETTER XXyYV. 


My Drar anp Honorep Faruer: It is with emo- 
tions of the deepest grief that I convey to you 
the sad intelligence of the death of Lazarus. Ii 
is amid the low sounds of the plaintive moans of 
his bereaved sisters over his lifeless form, and 
with my tears almost blinding my overfiowing 
eyes, that I write to you. The hand of the Lord 
hath fallen heavily upon this household, and 
stricken down its prop, smitten the oak around 
which clung these vine-like sisters, vine-like in 
their dependence upon him, and confiding trust 
in his wisdom and love. Now prostrate in the 
dust they lie stunned by the sudden and myste- 
rious stroke of God’s providence. 

I have spoken to you of the noble character of 
Lazarus, in a former letter, dear father, how that 
by writing in the Scribe’s room in the Temple 
he supported his venerable mother and sisters, 
while they, in their affection, labored with the 
needle in embroidery work, wherein they had 
very delicate skill, in order to lighten his labors. 
To the young men of Israel, Lazarus was held up 
by the Elders as a pattern of filial and brotherly 
virtue and honest industry; and to his sisters, 
Mary and Martha, other maidens were directed 
to look for examples of maidenly piety and dili- 
gent household thrift. Their humble dwelling 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 275 


was the home of hospitality and kindness, and 
thither the Prophet of God, Jesus, loveth to 
resort whensoever his great labors will permit 
him. Nearly of the same age, a holy friendship 
had sprung up between him and Lazarus, who so 
loved the Blessed Anointed One of God, that he 
would readily have laid down his life for him. I 
have told you, dear father, what a happy house- 
hold I have seen it when Jesus completed the 
number; for he stayed so much with them when 
not preaching, or when wishing to rest a day or 
two from his weary toil, that they came to regard 
him as one of their family. Mary would devise 
ways to do him honor, and show her respect and 
affection by working for him silken covers for 
the Books of the Prophets, which Lazarus would 
copy and present to his beloved friend; while 
Martha seemed ever to be thinking what and how 
she should administer to his comfort, by provid- 
ing every delicacy for her table. But so that 
Jesus could find listeners to his words of truth 
and wisdom, like Mary—who loved to sit at his 
feet and hear the golden language fall from his 
sacred lips—he thought not of meats or drinks. 
One day when I, with Mary and Lazarus, was 
listening to his heavenly teachings, wrapt in 
wonder and absorbing interest, Martha, who was 
preparing the meal, came and desired Mary to 
come and assist her; but the dear, pious girl 
heeded not nor heard her, she was feeding, so 
forgetful of all else, upon the celestial food that 
fell from the lips of Jesus, who was talking to us 
of the kingdom of God and the glories of heaven, 
and the necessity of holiness to dwell there. At 


276 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


length Martha, finding that Mary heard he 
appealed to Jesus, saying something sharply: 

‘*Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath 
left me to serve alone? Bid her, therefore, that 
she help me. 

We turned with surprise to hear her, who was 
usually so gentle and good, thus forget what was 
due to the presence of the Prophet; and Lazarus, 
blushing, was about to speak and excuse his sis- 
ter, who looked asif she were much worried with 
her domestic troubles; but Jesus said kindly to 
her: 

‘*‘Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled 
about many things; thy household takes up too 
much of thy time and thoughts. In this world 
but one care is truly worthy of the regard of 
men, which is to provide sustenance for the soul; 
for the body perisheth. Mary hath chosen more 
wisely than thyself. While thou carest much for 
the wants of the body, she careth for those of the 
spirit, and thus has that good part which shall 
not be taken away from her. Think not, beloved 
Martha, of sumptuous living for me, who have no 
earthly goods, nor even where to lay my head!’’ 

‘Say not thus, oh, say not so, dear Lord,’’ 
cried Martha, suddenly bursting into tears at 
Jesus’ touching words, and casting herself impul- 
sively at his feet; ‘‘this house is thy home—ever 
beneath its roof, while I have one above me, 
shalt thou have where to lay thy head! Say not 
so, my Lord!”’ 

We were all moved at Martha’s pathetic ear- 
nestness. Jesus raised her up, and said to her 
gently : 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. Q°7 


“It is thy love for me, I well know, that 
maketh thee so careful and troubled to provide 
for me at thy bountiful table. But I have meat 
to eat that ye know not of. Thus to teach the 
truths of God, as thou findest me doing to these, 
is to me meat and drink, for herein I am doing 
my Father’s will, who sent me.’’ 

Ihave been particular in giving you, dear father, 
these details of the domestic relations existing in 
the abode of Lazarus, and the sweet friendship 
that resided in their bosoms toward Jesus, and 
his familiar, brotherly love for them. You can 
now understand why, when Lazarus was taken ill, 
after his laborious vigils to copy the manuscript 
for the Roman Centurion, a message was at once 
sent to Jesus, who was in Bethabara beyond Jor- 
dan; for a physician of Jerusalem, whom the 
noble Caiaphas had sent out to Bethany, on hear- 
ing of the sudden sickness of the youthful Secre- 
tary, to whom he was greatly attached, for all 
people did love him who knew him—this physician 
had at once pronounced him in danger of sudden 
death from inward bleeding of the lungs. 

“Why, then,’’ you may ask, dear father, 
*‘should they send for Jesus, when death was cer- 
tain. Jesus,’’ you add, ‘‘was no physician, or if 
he had been, he could not reverse the fate of the 
dying young man!’’ 

The fact, dear father, that under these circum- 
stances they did send to Jesus to come and heal 
him, shows that it was not as a human physician 
they desired his presence, but as the miracle- 
working Prophet of God! It proves, and will, I 
trust, prove to you, dearest father, that they who 


278 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


should best know his power, believed assuredls- 
that he could save their brother. It is testimony 
irresistible toward sustaining his claim to have 
come down from God! It is those who are most 
intimate with others who do know them best. 
Now, that the sisters of Lazarus sent a message 
presently to Jesus to interpose between death 
and his life, shows that they plainly believe 
he had not only the power of miracles, but 
had power over death; and that they had 
witnessed instances of his power sufficient to 
give them faith in his ability to save their 
brother; while they knew that his love for him 
would certainly prompt him to exert it. 

In my last letter I closed with informing you 
of the departure of the messenger. After he had 
gone out of sight from the door, and the last 
echo of his horse’s hoofs ceased to be heard by 
the long-listening ears of his sister Martha, I re- 
entered the room where Lazarus lay. He was as 
white as marble. His large, black eves seemed 
to be twice their usual size and brilliancy. He 
breathed with difficulty, and every few moments 
he would be compelled to have his head raised, 
in order to free his mouth from the welling blood 
that was constantly bubbling up from the broken 
fountains of his life. Mary’s tender privilege it 
was to render him this service of love. As she 
bent over him, looking downward with anxious 
fondness into his pale, intellectual face, watching 
every shadow of the change that the sable wing 
of advancing death cast over it, I thought I had 
never gazed on amore lovely being! Who, in 
beholding the seraphic beauty of her face, the 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 279 


brilliant light of her dark eyes, which were now 
glittering with sisterly grief, the graceful expres- 
sion of her proud Rebecca-like head, and the su- 
perb outline of her figure, where love and majesty 
seemed blended to mould a second Eve—who, in 
the admiration of her person, could read within 
and beneath all the secret sorrow of her goul! 
Who would believe that a dark cloud rested on 
her spirit, and that her happiness was no longer 
on earth! AsI gazed upon her, I forgot for the 
moment the dying young man about whose form 
her snow-white arms were entwined, his head 
reclining upon her bosom, her raven tresses 
bronzed with a golden light, all unbound and 
floating above him, and far over his pillow, like 
a rich veil interwoven of sable silken gloss and 
threads of gold. I could not gaze upon that 
abundant hair without recalling the day not long 
before, when at the dwelling of Rabbi Joseph 
Solomon, she drew near suddenly to Jesus, who 
was his guest, and bathed his feet with her fast- 
flowing tears, mingling therewith her kisses, and 
then dried them with her shining hair! 

And wherefore did she weep upon the feet of 
Jesus? you may ask, dear father. They were 
tears of gratitude and penitence. Her history 
you know, at least as rumor had it three years 
ago, with evil additions thereto. It is true, 
Mary sinned, and should not be exculpated; but 
her sin was in leaving her maternal roof, yield- 
ing, in her unsuspecting innocence, to the daz- 
zling temptations of the young prince Herod. It 
is not true that she was tempted by ambition and 
power. She has poured into my ear all her sad 


280 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


and touching story. Prince Herod had but re- 
cently returned with his father Antipas, from 
Rome, and was a youth comely in person, well 
skilled in the fascinations that easiest win the 
hearts of the guileless. By accident he saw Mary 
one morning at the palace of Pilate the Procu- 
rator, whither she had gone to deliver to the wife 
of the governor a piece of embroidery-work 
which she had done at her command. It would 
seem, that having made inquiries touching her 
condition in life, he feigned to be a writer of 
parchments, and thus readily making the ac- 
quaintance of the unsuspecting Lazarus, was 
readily introduced beneath his roof. Here, as 
an humble scribe, dressed in plain and coarse 
apparel, he often came, and succeeded in win- 
ning the heart of the lovely girl. At length, in 
an evil hour, she listened to his temptation 
secretly to elope with him, to be united to him at 
his mother’s house, he having urged to her that 
his open marriage would estrange from him the 
regards of his uncle, a wealthy scribe, who de- 
sired, if he married not for seven years, to 
enrich him with his wealth. 

To this tale she listened. Butinstead of being 
taken by him to the roof of the mother, of whom 
he had falsely spoken to her, she found herself 
seized, and her mouth stopped by the leader of a 
party of horsemen, who suddenly came up the 
path, and who, dismounting, placed her on before 
him. The young scribe, mounting a led horse, 
headed the band, and the whole escort galloped 
northward at rapid speed. Ignorant in whose 
power she was, and fearing for her betrothed 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 281 


husband as well as for herself, supposing that he 
was forcibly in their hands also, she tried by 
listening to ascertain what was to be done with 
her, and who her captors were. To her surprise 
she heard the voice of her lover giving directions 
to the horsemen from time to time, which she 
could hardly believe; but when the moon rose, 
she succeeded so far in removing her veil as to 
enable her to recognize him as the leader of the 
troop. 

After riding all night, they stopped at a weli 
near Samaria at dawn of day. Here refresh- 
ments were offered her, but she refused them, 
and begged to be permitted to speak to her lover. 
But he did not come near her. After an hour’s 
rest in the caravansera, they once more pro- 
ceeded on their route in a northerly course. 
Leaving Mount Gerizim in the rear, with the 
_dordan on their right, they at noon reached the 
base of Mount Tabor. After three hours’ repose, 
they crossed the eastern shoulder of the moun- 
tain, from which was a magnificent view of the 
sea of Galilee. Descending the mountain, they 
reached, just as the sun set, the gate of a castle 
that overlooks the town of Nazareth. This they 
entered, and the portals closed upon her. 

But I will not be weary with too minute a nar- 
rative, dear father; my object is only to vindicate 
my Cousin Mary from intentional guilt. Ushered 
into superb apartments, her lover, attired in ali 
the splendor of a prince, soon appeared before 
her, and acknowledged he had been deceiving 
her; that he was Herod Valerius, the son of the 
Herod Antipas. Tetrarch of Galilee, and that she _ 


282 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


was now in one of the palaces of his family. 
Who can describe the horror, shame, and grief of 
this cruelly deceived and erring girl! Bitterly 
did her tears flow at the too trusting step she had 
taken, thus sinning against God. But tears and 
repentance, implorations and entreaties for per- 
mission to return to her humble home, were in 
vain. As she had sown, she had reaped. 

At the expiration of three months, she suc- 
ceeded in making her escape, and fled to the feet 
of Mary of Nazareth, the mother of the Prophet 
Jesus. To her she made known all, and received 
her sympathy while she bowed her penitent head 
beneath her reproofs. ~ Here it was that she first 
beheld the holy Prophet, and received from him 
the consolations of the forgiveness of heaven for 
her sin. Led by his noble mother, she bent her 
steps back again to her father’s house. All 
Bethany knew of her shame—that is, knew that 
she had fled with the dissolute prince Valerius, 
and was living with him in sin at his castle in 
Galilee; but they knew not any extenuating cir- 
cumstances. So she entered Bethany closely 
veiled, and with hurried step sought the shelter 
of her mother’s arms, if, peradventure, they 
would be open to receive her. 

At length, after many weeks, all who knew her 
were acquainted with the truth, and their cold 
censure was softened into pity; and as she went 
about doing good, as she visited, like an angel, 
the sick and sorrowing, she won back all hearts, 
and was loved and honored as before. But the 
cold world still looked upon her ag a guilty one 
—as a sinner; but had they known how deep her 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 283 


sorrow was for all the past, they would also have 
removed the barbs from the sharp arrows of their 
tongues. 

Since then, all the generous care of Lazarus 
and Martha, and of their friends, has been to 
make her forget the past; and as it is three years 
since what I have described happened, the pre- 
vailing gentle sadness that now shades her coun- 
tenance, alone shows to the loving gaze of those 
around her what she has suffered. It was Jesus 
who reconciled her to her brother-and sister, and 
hence her deep gratitude to him, which she has 
shown, not once, but many times, when he has 
been their guest, by bathing his feet with her 
tears, and wiping them with the hairs of her 
head. Her place is ever at hisfeet. Lovely and 
guilty one, her tears are her daily offering to 
heaven, and will atone for deeper guilt than hers, 
if tears do wash away sins; but she says nothing 
has given consolation to her heart like the voice 
of Jesus, when he said to her, ‘‘Daughter, thy 
sins beforgiven thee!’’ ‘‘The words,’’ she added 
to me, ‘‘penetrated my heart, and illumined the 
darkness of my soul with ineffable, unspeakable 
peace!’’ 

I commenced this letter by informing you of 
the departure of the good and generous and 
pious Lazarus. He fell asleep in death as an 
infant sinks to slumber in its mother’s arms, 
gradually sinking from the loss of blood, grow- 
ing fainter and fainter till his eyes closed, his 
pulse ceased to throb, and his noble heart to 
flutter, like an escaping bird beneath the hand’s 
light pressure. 


284 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


All too late was Jesus sent for! He is dead! 
To-morrow his burial will take place. Alas! how 
suddenly has perished the noblest young man in 
Judea! 

Farewell, dear father! My heart is full; I can 
write no more. The day after to-morrow I re- 
turn to Jerusalem, when I will write you again. 
You said in your last letter you would soon leave 
Egypt for Judea, for the purpose of taking me 
back to my dear native valley of the Nile. The 
God of Abraham preserve you in your journey, 
and bring you in safety to the embraces of 

Your loving daughter, 
ADINA. 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID 285 


LETTER XXVI. 


My Dear Farner: In my last letter I told you 
that Lazarus was dead! I write this to say that 
he that was dead is alive! Lazarus lives! He 
whom I saw dead and buried, and sealed up within 
the rocky cave of the tomb, he is alive again 
from the dead; and at this moment, while I am 
penning this extraordinary account, I hear his 
voice upon the porch, as he is engaged in relating 
what’ has transpired respecting himself toa 
crowd of wondering people from Jerusalem. 
Even Pilate, the Roman Procurator, stopped his 
chariot at the door this morning to see Lazarus, 
and have speech of him. 

How, my dear father, how shall I find adequate 
language to tell you all that has happened within 
the last twenty-four hours! How shall I make 
you fully believe the marvelous recital which I 
have taken up my pen to make! I know not how 
to begin the wonderful narrative, for the joy that 
prevents me from arranging my thoughts and 
presenting the facts intelligibly to you. God 
has indeed remembered his chosen people Israel 
once more, and shown his power among us! 

You have already been informed by me how 
rapidly Lazarus failed after his sudden attack of 
hemorrhage of the chest, and that he soon died; 
and that, in hopes that he might avert death, 


286 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


Jesus was sent for at the first to come to him. 
But Bethabara was a day’s journey, and ere the 
messenger reached him the soul of his friend had 
fied. The next day he was buried; a very large 
concourse of people from the town of Bethany, 
and from Jerusalem, coming to his burial; for he 
was greatly beloved; even the chariot of the 
noble lady, Lucia Metella, the good and virtuous 
wife of Pilate, was present to do honor to the 
obsequies of him who had no other renown than 
his virtues. 

The funeral procession was so very long that 
strangers pausing, asked what great master in 
Israel, or person of note, was being taken to the 
sepulcher. 

Some answered, ‘‘Lazarus, the industrious 
scribe!’’ Others said, ‘‘a young man who has 
devoted his life to honor his mother!’’ Others 
answered, as Lazarus himself, were he alive, 
would have had them: 

**It is Lazarus, the friend of Jesus!’’ 

This, living, was his proudest title; and dead, 
he would have desired no ,other. Ah, dear 
father, may the day yet come when you shall 
deem such a title greater -honor than the gold of 
Egypt, or all the glory of your proud descent 
from Abraham and David! 

The place where they were to lay him was the 
cave in which both his father and mother were 
entombed. It was in a deep, shady vale, that 
opened into the valley of the Kedron. It was 
thickly shaded by cypress, palm, and pomegra- 
nate trees; and a large tamarind grew, with its 
stately branches, overclasping the summit of the 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. R287 


secluded place of sepulcher, while an abrupt cliff 
of Olivet hung impending above, like the shagg 
brow of a giant looking down upon the spot. 
Above the tree-tops, in the direction of Kedron, 
were visible the majestic heights of the distant 
Temple, and the warlike battlements of the city 
of David, while the sunlight, glancing upon the 
dazzling shield of a sentinel who was standing 
upon its loftiest watch-tower, caused it to gleam 
like a lesser sun. The remote swell of a Roman 
bugle from the head of a cohort, which was just 
issuing from the gate of Damascus, came softly 
and musically to our ears, as we stood in silence 
about the grove wherein we were to place the 
dead. Atmilius, the Centurion, was also present, 
wearing a white scarf above his silver cuirass, in 
token of grief; for he also loved Lazarus. Of 
him, dear father, I have not of late spoken; for 
should I begin to write of him, I should have no 
room in my letters for any other theme. You 
will soon see him, and judge for yourself how 
worthy he is of your confidence, and all the love 
of my heart. Iam too grateful to you, dearest 
father, for not refusing your consent tc our 
union, but only withhold it until you reach 
Jerusalem. The blessed winds waft your bark 
swiftly to Jaffa, that I may soon embrace you, 
and present to you the noble Aimilius, who is as 
faithful a worshiper of our God as if he were a 
son of Abraham by birth rather than by adop- 
tion. 

The sacred observances at the grove being over, 
they raised the body of the dead young man from 
the bier, and four youths, aided by Aimilius at the 


288 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


head to support it, conveyed it into the yawning 
cavern. A moment they lingered on the thresh- 
old, that Mary and Martha might take one more 
look, imprint upon its icy cold lips one last kiss, 
press once more his unconscious head to their 
loving and bursting hearts. I also gazed upon 
him, weeping at their sorrow, and sorrowing to 
behold so noble a face, beautiful as chiseled ala- 
baster, about to be consigned to the loathsome 
‘worm of the charnel-house. Hewas so good, and 
excelling all his companions in all things great 
and pure, and lofty in character; my tears 
flowed, and I felt that had I not loved Aimilius, 
I should have loved Lazarus. 

The young men moved forward into the gloom 
of the cave. Mary rushed in, and with dis- 
heveled hair, cried: 

**Oh, take him not away forever from the sight 
of my eyes! Oh, my brother, my brother, 
would that I had died for thee! for I am willing 
to lie down with the worm and call it my sister, 
and sleep in the arms of death, as on the breast 
of my mother!, Thou wert happy,and honored, 
and should have lived! I am wretched and 
heart-broken, and such only should die! Oh, 
brother, brother, lst them not take thee forever, 
from the sight of my eyes! Without thee, how 
shall life be life!’’ 

Aimilius entered the tomb, and tenderly rais- 
ing her from the body, on which she had cast 
herself in the eloquent abandonment of her wild 
grief, he led her forth, and beckoning to me, 
placed her in my arms. 

Martha bore her own griefs with more com- 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 289 


posure, but her face expressed how deeply she 
was moved within, thus to say adieu forever to 
her only brother, to her beloved Lazarus, who 
had been the strong rock which had presented 
ever its front to the shock of the stormy billows 
of this life, as they threatened her and Mary, 
and was a tower of strength to them in the day 
of trouble; as well as an exhaustless fountain of 
holy domestic joy! 

The body being placed in a niche hollowed out 
in the rock, was decently covered with a grave 
mantle, all but the calm face, which was bound 
about by a snow-white napkin. Maidens of the 
village advanced and cast flowers upon his head, 
and many, many were the sincere tears, both 
from beneath manly lids and those of virgins, 
which bore tribute to his worth. 

The burial ceremonies being ended, five strong 
men replaced the ponderous stone door closely 
fitting the entrance to the cave, and so secured it 
by letting it into a socket that it would require a 
like number to remove it. 

As we were retiring with heavy hearts from 
performing this last duty to the beloved dead, 
the sun sank beyond the blue hills of Ajalon in 
the west, in a lake of gold, gilding the pinnacle 
of the Temple, and making it appear like a 
gigantic spear elevated into the sky. From the 
Levites at evening sacrifice came mellowed by 
the distance the deep chant of the Temple service, 
uttered by two thousand voices. The cloud from 
the altar sacrifice ascended slowly into the still 
air, and catching the splendor of the sun’s last 
beams, shone like the pillar of cloud and of fire 


290 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


which stood above the tabernacle in the wilder- 
ness. The laborers in the harvest were hastening 
toward the gates, ere they should be shut for the 
night by the Roman guards; and dwellers in the 
village were hurrying forth, lest they should by 
chance be held in the city overnight. 

There was a sacred hush in the sleepy atmos- 
phere that seemed in sympathy and touching 
harmony with .the scene in which we had just 
borne a part. With Mary leaning sobbing upon 
my shoulder, I sat upon arock near the tomb, 
giving my heart up to the sweet influences of the 
hour. We were alone, save Aimilius, who sat 
upon his horse near by, and seemed to be gazing 
upon the beauty of the evening scene. Martha 
and my cousin, with John, had returned to the 
now desolate home of which Lazarus had been 
the light and the honor. 

*‘T am calmer now,’’ said Mary, after awhile 
raising her head, and looking into my face, her 
splendid eyes glittering brimful with tears; ‘‘I 
am better now! The peace of the sweet holy 
skies seems to have descended, and entered my 
heart. The heavens of my soul are as clear and 
pure and peaceful as those above me! ‘The 
spirit of Lazarus pervades all, and hallows all I 
see! Iwill weep no more. He is happy, very 
happy, and I will try to be holy and go to him, 
for he cannot come to me!’’ 

At this moment we heard the tramp of horses’ 
hoofs, and Atmilius, startled thereby from his 
reverie, recovered his seat and laid his hand upon 
his sword; for though the Romans have the mas- 
tery in our land, as conquerors, they are not 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 291 


loved; and scarcely a week passes without some 
conflict between the soldiers of the Legion and 
the common people among the Jews; and even 
the officers have been attacked when riding 
abroad from Jerusalem not sufficiently attended. 

fimilius, therefore, who had with him only his 
white-haired Celtic servant, Frwynn, prepared to 
receive a foe or welcome his friends. The next 
moment, around a rock projecting from the 
shoulder of Olivet, appeared first, one horseman 
in the wild, warlike costume of an Ishmaelite of 
the desert, brandishing a long spear in the air; 
then another and another similarly clad and 
armed, and mounted on superb horses of the 
desert; then dashed in sight alone, a tall, daring- 
looking young man, in a rich costume, half- 
Grecian, haif-Arabic, though his dark, handsome 
features were decidedly Israelitish. He rode a 
superb Abyssinian charger, and sat upon his 
back like the heathen centaur I have read of in 
Latin books, which Aimilius has given me to read. 
Upon seeing me, he drew rein and smiled, and 
waved his jeweled hand with splendid courtesy; 
but at the sight of Aimilius, his dark eyes 
flashed, and leaping to his feet in his stirrups, 
he shook his glittering falchion toward him, and 
rode with a trumpet-like cry full upon him! 

The brave Roman soldier received the charge 
by turning his horse slightly, and catching the 
point of the weapon upon the blade of his short 
sword. 

*“We meet at last, oh, Roman!’’ cried this 
wild, dashing chief, as he wheeled his horse like 
lightning, and once more rode upon the iron- 
armed Roman knight. 


292 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


‘‘Ay, Barabbas, and with joy I hail thee,” 
responded Aimilius, placing a bugle to his lips. 

At hearing the clear voice of the bugle awaking 
the echoes of Olivet, the dread robber chief, of 
whom you have heard me speak before dear 
father, said haughtily, and with a glance of con- 
tempt: 

“Thou, a knight of the tribune, and com- 
mander of a legion, call for aid, when I offer thee 
equal battle, hand to hand, and ask not my own 
men’s swords.”’ 

‘“‘l know no equal battle with a robber. I 
would hunt thee as I would do the wolf and the 
wild beasts of thy deserts,’’ answered Almilius, 
pressing him closely. At a signal from the rob- 
ber chief, his four men, who had reined up a 
short distance off, near the tomb of Lazarus, sent 
up a shrill, eagle-like scream, that made my 
blood stand still, and rode down like the wind to 
overcome Aimilius. 

Hitherto I had remained like one stupefied at 
being an involuntary spectator of a sudden bat- 
tle; but on seeing his danger, I was at his side, 
scarce knowing how I reached the place. 

‘*Retire, dear Adina,’’ he said, ‘‘I shall have 
to defend both thee and myself, and these bar- 
barians will give both my hands enough to do.”’ 
As he spoke, he turned his horse’s head to meet 
the fourfold shock, and I escaped, I know not 
how, with the impulse to hasten to Bethany for 
succor. But heaven interposed its aid—a detach- 
ment of the bodyguard of Pilate, which Ajmilius 
had left in an olive grove to bivouaec and refresh 
themselves and horses, hearing the recall of their 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 293 


chief’s bugle, came now threading up the hill, a 
score strong of armed men, bearded Gauls, whe 
had served in Britain against the Picts. At the 
sight, Barabbas and his party fied like wild 
pigeons pursued by a cloud of Iturean hawks. 
Barabbas, however, turned more than once to 
fling back defiance to his foes. A‘milius by this 
means came up with him, seized the crimson sash 
whch encircled his waist, and held him thus, both 
fighting as they rode. The troops soon came up 
with them, and after a desperate battle the cele- 
brated robber chief was taken alive, though 
bleeding with many wounds, and bound with his 
own sash to the column of one of the tombs. 
Aimilius was but slightly hurt; and I never saw 
such bright joy as sparkled in his eyes, that he 
had at length captured the bold bandit leader 
who had so frequently before escaped him, and 
to get possession of whom he had made so many 
attempts. There lay at length in his power the 
terror of all the country between Jericho and 
Jerusalem, a bound captive. He smiled still 
proudly defiant, and looked haughty and wildly 
noble even in his bonds. His men were also 
taken; and giving them, with their chief, into 
the charge of his soldiers, to convey to the 
prisons of Jerusalem, Admilius rejoined me and 
Mary, and accompanied us to the house of the 
two sisters. 

It appears that Barabbas, emboldened by the 
rumor that a rich company of merchants were to 
leave Jerusalem at daybreak, for Damascus, had 
advanced near the city with a few followers, to 
lie in wait for their coming out, and hang og 


294 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


their path until they should have entered a defile 
in the mountains of Bethel, where his troop 
were lying in ambush; and it was while seeking 
a shelter from notice among the tombs in the vale 
of Olivet that he came suddenly upon us. Atimi- 
lius says that he will assuredly be crucified for 
his numerous crimes. Dreadful punishment! 
and for one so young and prepossessing as this 
desert robber to come to such an ignominious 
and agonizing death; to hang for hours under 
the sunbeams by lacerated hands and feet, till 
death comes from slow exhaustion of all the 
powers of nature. Iam amazed that so polite 
and humane a nation as the Roman can inflict 
such a cruel and agonizing death, even upon 
their malefactors. Last week, as Il was walking 
with my uncle Amos among the sepulchres of the 
kings outside of the North gate, being prevented 
from re-entering the gate by the passage of a 
Roman Legion to suppress an insurréction in 
Samaria, we passed round by the Western gate, 
to reach which we had to pass the foot of the Hill 
of Calvary, upon which two crosses were erected, 
on one of which hung the still living body of a 
seditious Jew, executed by order of the Procu- 
rator. He writhed fearfully, while his groans 
penetrated my heart. I covered my eyes and my 
ears, and begged Rabbi Amos to hurry with me 
from such a fearful spectacle. Yet it was in full 
sight of the city, of the road; and many specta- 
tors, both of women and men, lingered to gaze. 
Ignominious, indeed, must the life of a man 
have been, for him to be justly doomed to suffer 
such a death. 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 293 


In this letter, dearest father, I intended to 
relate to you how Lazarus has been restored to 
life, but it is already taken up with so much, 
that I defer it to my next. But, believe me, that 
Lazarus is living and well, and thousands are 
crowding into Bethany, and thronging the 
house, to see this great thing that hath hap- 
pened. Suffice for me to tell you, at the close 
of this letter, that it was Jesus who raised him 
from the dead, the Prophet of God of whom you 
are yet in doubt whether he be the Messias or 
no! Ah, is he who raised the widow’s son of 
Nain—who walked on the sea a league to his dis- 
ciples’ boats—who stilled the tempest by the 
word of his power—who fed five thousand men 
with five pounds’ weight of bread—who healed 
the nobleman Hadad’s son—who raised the dead 
daughter of the Galilean ruler, Jairus—who 
restores the deaf, the blind, the dumb, by a 
word, a touch, a look—around whose path and 
life are gathered together such a multitude of 
testimonies to his superhuman power, in prophe- 
cles, in mighty works, and in glittering miracles 
—ah, my dear father, is he only a common man; 
is he an impostor? Oh, is he not, is he not the 
Son of God—the Messias of the Prophets—the 
Lion of the tribe of Judah—the Deliverer and 
future glory of Israel? Is he not He whose day 
of splendor Abraham saw afar off, and was glad? 
Is He not Shiloh, whom the patriarch Jacob 
beheld rise up to wield the scepter of Israel? Is 
He not the mighty Son of God, whom the burn- 
ing pen of Esaias records in these words of 
inspiration: 


296 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


“Unto us a child is born—unto us a son is 
given; and the government shall be upon his 
shoulders: and his name shall be called Wonder- 
ful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting. 
Father, the Prince of Peace; who shall sit upon 
the throne of David, and establish it with justice 
‘and judgment from henceforth, even forever!’’ 

\ Think of these things, dear father, ponder 
them well, and let not the poverty of Jesus be a 
stumbling-block to your faith in Him as Messias. © 
That he has raised Lazarus from the dead is 
alone proof to me that He is the Son of God. 
Your affectionate daughter, 
ADINA. 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 29% 


LETTER XXVIL. 


My Dear Farner: Your letter has filled me 
with joy that I can poorly express by my pen. 
It was received this morning by the courier from 
Egypt, with the package, both being safely 
placed in my hands, nine days only after they 
quitted your own. I kissed them, and pressed 
them again and again to my heart, at the thought 
that they were so lately touched by your fingers. 
The letter assures me that you are certain to 
leave at the new moon, and after a few days’ 
delay at Gaza, will be with me not many days 
afterward. ‘This letter I shall send so as to meet 
you at Gaza. 

Three years, three long years, dearest father, 
have passed since I last saw your venerable and 
kind face. Ah, when you come, how I shall love 
you, and hang upon you, and watch every look, 
and catch your every word! It is true, my uncle 
Amos has been next to a father to me, all affec- 
tion and goodness; but no love nor care can hold 
the place of a father’s to a daughter. 

When I review the interesting scenes I have 
passed through, the wonderful events which I 
have witnessed since I first came to Jerusalem, 
nearly three years ago, with the caravan of 
Rabbi Ben Israel, I do not regret my long 
absence from you, dear father; for to have been 


298 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


in Jerusalem during the period I have named, is 
a privilege that Abraham and all the patriarchs 
and prophets of God would have coveted. Dur- 
ing that period the Messias has walked the earth, 
clothed with divine power, and familiarly gone 
in and out of Jerusalem before all eyes, perform- 
ing miracles, and doing mighty works which 
never mandid. I have learned to love and honor 
that blessed Prophet as the Son of the Highest, 
and the Anointed of the Lord; I have sat at his 
feet, and listened to his heavenly teachings, and 
the wisdom of his sacred lips has made me wise. 

But I have not yet made known to you the par- 
ticulars of the greatest miracle of power and love 
of all those wonders which he has done, viz., the 
raising up of Lazarus from the dead, and I will 
here recount them as they occurred. 

When Mary and Martha, finding Lazarus given 
over by the physicians as past possible recovery 
from his grievous illness, had dispatched the 
message to Jesus, as I have already stated, they 
began to be more cheerful with new-born hope, 
saying: 

‘“Tf our dear Rabbi, the holy Prophet, comes, 
he will heal him with a word, as he has done so 
many of the sick.’’ 

‘Yes; many whom he knew not he has re- 
stored to health by a touch,’’ remarked Martha, 
‘‘~how much more, Lazarus, whom he loveth as a 
brother! O that the messenger may press for- 
ward with all haste!’’ 

‘*TIf Lazarus should die ere he comes,’’ hesitat- 
ingly remarked my gentle cousin, the betrothed 
of John the disciple, ‘‘he could bring him to life 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 209 


again, even as he did the son of the widow at 
Nain.’”’ 

‘Yes, without doubt, unless it were too late,’’ 
remarked Martha, shrinking at the thought that 
her brother should die; ‘‘but if he be long dead 
it will be impossible.’’ 

‘Nothing is impossible with Jesus,’’ answered 
Mary, her eyes brightening with trusting faith. 

Thus the hours passed between mingled hopes 
and fears; and ere Jesus came, the mantle of 
death was laid over the face of their dead brother. 
‘*Lazarus is dead, and Jesus is away!’’ was the 
bitter and touching cry made by the bereaved 
sisters, as they wept in each other’s arms. 

The next day the burial took place, as I have 
described already to you, dear father, in my last 
letter, and yet no messenger came from Jesus. 
The morning of the third day the messenger re- 
turned, and said that he had found the Prophet 
on the further bank of Jordan, where John had 
baptized, and that he abode in an humble cottage 
in the suburbs of Bethabara, with his disciples, 
and was engaged in teaching the things of the 
kingdom of God, and unfolding the prophecies 
to many who resorted unto him. 

The bearer of the sad things from the two sis- 
ters delivered his simple and touching message: 

‘Lord, behold he whom thou lovest is sick!’’ 

**And what said he?—how did his counte- 
nance appear?’’ asked Martha, of the man. 

**He betrayed no surprise, but said calmly to 
me, ‘Son, I know it! This sickness shall not be 
unto death. It shall be for the glory of God; 
for hereby will my Father permit me to be glori- 


300 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


fied, that men may see and believe truly that I 
came out from God.’ ’’ 

‘‘What said he more?’’ asked Martha, sorrow- 
fully and doubting. 

‘‘Nothing more, lady; and having given my 
message, I departed,’’ answered the man. 

‘‘Alas! he knew not how ill his friend was,’’ 
said Mary, ‘‘or he would not have said it was not 
unto death, and would have hastened with you.’”’ 

‘Thy Lord should know all things, daughter, ’’ 
said a priest who stood by. ‘‘This ignorance of 
the danger of Lazarus, and his assertion that he 
would not die, shows that he is an impostor. Is 
not Lazarus dead and buried ?’’ 

At this, Martha’s faith seemed for a moment 
shaken, but Mary eloquently defended her 
brother’s absent friend, and holy Prophet, say- 
ing, that ‘‘When Jesus should come and speak in 
person for himself, he would make his words 
plain, and show them to have been spoken with 
wisdom.’’ | 

With what deep sorrow they mourned their 
brother! and their tears fell the faster in that 
they felt assured he would not have died had 
Jesus been there. Their faith and confidence in 
him underwent a sore trial as day after day 
passed, and nothing more was heard from him. 

‘‘He has forgotten us,’’ answered Martha. 
‘*‘He should be near to console us in our deep 
affliction, though he came not to heal our 
brother. ’’ 

‘*Nay, sister, do not think hardly of the blessed 
friend of Lazarus,’’ said Mary, with soothing 
tones, as she caressed her elder sister. ‘‘I feel 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 3B0L 


that if he had seen fit he could have raised up 
our brother, even speaking the word from Betha- 
bara. It was not needful he should see him to 
heal him; for dost thou remember how he healed 
Lucius, the Centurion’s son, yet at the time he 
was a day’s journey distant from him.”’ 

‘And why, oh, why, did he not save Lazarus 
exclaimed Martha bitterly. 

**In that he did not, sweet sister,’’ answered 
Mary gently, ‘‘it was for the best. Did he not 
say to the messenger, his sickness should be to 
the glory of his power?”’ 

‘*But not his death, Mary, not his death! He 
is dead four days already; and how can the grave 
give glory to the power of Jesus? Will he raise 
him up since corruption has begun, nay, began 
ere we laid him in the cold sepulcher? Oh, 
speak not to me of the cruel prophet. He loved 
not Lazarus, or he had not the power to save 
him. Nay; leave me, Mary, to the bitterness of 
my grief.”’ 

**Ah, dear Martha, how soon is thy faith in 
Jesus, when proven, become naught!’’ said 
Mary, bending upon her from her dark, earnest 
eyes, looks of sad reproach. ‘‘Shall one day 
overturn your years of holy friendship for him? 
Because he answered not our prayer to come to 
Lazarus, think you he loved him not, and is in- 
different to our anguish? He is wronged by 
your reproof, and injured by your want of con- 
fidence in his love and care for us.’’ 

‘*He.can heal a proud and rich ruler’s son, but 
he heeds not the cry of the poor and lowly,’’ 
perseveringly answered Martha, expressing in 


23 
I 


302 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


her looks the intensity of her feelings against 
Jesus. ‘‘The death of Lazarus be upon his 
head!’’ 

‘* Ah, sister, God forgive thee, and let thy grief 
excuse thy words. Though he slay me, I will 
trust in him,’’ exclaimed Mary, laying her hand 
on her sister’s shoulder, while holy firmness and 
a resolute light beamed in her shining and tear- 
ful eyes. 

While they were thus discoursing, one came 
running. swiftly toward the house, and, breath- 
less with haste, cried to them and to the Jews 
sitting there, who had come to comfort them con- 
cerning their brother: 

‘“*The Prophet! the Nazarene! He comes 

Almost at the same moment, Melec, the Gibe- 
onite, entered and said: 

‘“Jesus, the Messias of God, is at hand! He 
already entereth the village with his disciples. ’’ 

At this intelligence the mourners who sat with 
Mary and Martha in the vine porch rose up to go 
and meet him; but Martha, shrieking with sud- 
den joy, sprang up, and more quickly than they 
reached the street, and running with great speed, 
came where Jesus was. 

Mary, who had received the news without be. 
traying any other emotion than the secret and 
holy joy of a heart that had confidence all along 
in her Lord, instead of hastening to meet him, 
rending her hair with grief, like her sister, pro- 
ceeded to prepare a room for the hospitable 
entertainment of the beloved Prophet, when he 
should come in, thus taking Martha’s place; and 
when she had arranged all, she sat down with me 


{?? 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 303 


in the house, her heart filled with joy, and her 
face expressive of her calm and quiet happiness. 

‘LT knew he would come! Iknew he would not 
leave or forsake us in our deep sorrow, Adina,’’ 
she said, two or three times; and as the confused 
noise of advancing footsteps fell upon our ears, 
her heart beat quicker, and with the glow that 
joy and expectation made to enrich her face, I 
thought she looked more beautiful than ever 
before. 

When Martha came near Jesus, whom she met 
just entering Bethany, walking with four of his 
disciples along the dusty road, and looking 
weary and travel-worn, she ran and threw herself 
at his feet, crying: 

‘‘Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother 
had not died!’’ 

Jesus taking her hand, raised her up, and said 
with emotion, for he was deeply moved: 

‘‘Lazarus sleepeth, Martha. I am now come to 
awake him out of his sleep.’’ 

‘‘Lord, if my brother slept only, he would not 
have been buried. He is dead, and hath been 
dead four days.’’ 

“‘I spoke of his death, Martha! Lazarus is 
dead; but death to those whom my Father loveth 
is sleep. The good die not, only the wicked. 
Their death is eternal, where the worm dieth not. 
I say unto thee, Lazarus is not dead but sleepeth ; 
and he shall rise again!’’ 

‘‘T know, O Rabboni, that he shall rise again 
in the resurrection at the last day.’’ 

Jesus then said unto her, lifting his celestial 
glances toward heaven: 


304 RINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


*‘T am the resurrection and the life. He that 
believeth in me, though he were dead, shall he 
live! and whosoever liveth and believeth in me 
shall never die! Believest thou this, daughter ?’’ 

‘*Yea, Lord, I believe that thou art the Christ, 
the Son of God, which should come into the 
world. I know that whatsoever thou wilt ask of 
God, God will give it thee, and that even now 
thou couldst bring Lazarus back again!”’ 

‘‘Corruption and the worm have begun their 
work,’’ said a proud and unbelieving Pharisee 
near, on hearing this; ‘‘whatever may have been 
the state of the ruler’s daughter, and of the son 
of her of Nain, Lazarus the scribe, at least, is 
dead!’’ 

To this speech Jesus made no reply, but turn- 
ing to Martha, said softly: 

‘‘T am rejoiced that thy faith in me hath come 
back into thine heart, for thou hast doubted, oh, 
daughter of little faith, in that I came not at thy 
call. It was needful that thy brother should die, 
that I might display the power of God in me by 
raising him up. This day my Father shall be 
glorified, and the world shall truly know that I 
come from Him who is Life, and the giver of 
life. Go, thou, and tell thy sister that I am here, 
and would have her come and speak with me!’’ 

Martha, then, overjoyed, and wondering that 
Jesus should have known her thoughts, so as to 
reproach her for her little faith as he had done, 
hastened to her sister, and entering, cried: 

‘‘T have seen the Lord! He calleth for thee, 
Mary. Come and see him as he sits by Isaiah’s 
fountain, near the market-place; for he hath said 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 305 


the will not enter our house until he crosses the 
threshold with Lazarus by his side!’’ 

Her words made my heart bound with an in- 
describable thrill! Lazarus to come again into 
the house alive, walking with Jesus! I buried 
my face in my hands, overcome with an idea so 
full of joy, terror, wonder, and supernatural awe. 
Mary rose quickly, and went out, scarcely sup- 
porting herself upon her failing limbs for trem- 
bling joy, and a sweet, undefined hope of—she 
&new not what—immeasurable and unbearable 
happiness about to come upon her. Certain of 
her Jewish friends from Jerusalem at that 
moment met her at the door, not knowing that 
Jesus had entered Bethany; and began to com- 
fort her, and to ask her if they also should go 
with her to weep at the grave of Lazarus; for 
they said: 

**She goeth unto the grave to weep there!’’ 

*‘She goes to see Jesus, the friend of Lazarus, 
for he calleth her,’’ answered Martha, smiling 
with eagerness, and speaking with an animation 
that presented a singular contrast to her late deep 
grief, 

Mary hastened to where Jesus sat by the foun- 
fain bathing his dusty and wounded feet, and 
discoursing to those about him upon the resur- 
rection of the dead. Upon seeing Mary, he ex- 
tended his hand, but she sank at his feet, and 
bathing them with her tears, wiped them with 
her gleaming black hair. 

**Lord,’’ she said, in her sister’s words, with 
great emotion, ‘‘if thou, Lord, hadst been here, 
my brother had not died.’’ 


306 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


Then bowing her head to the edge of the mar- 
ble basin, she wept very heavily. The Jews, 
men and women, who stood about, being touched 
with her sorrow, also wept, while glittering tears 
coursed their way down the face of the beloved 
John, his disciple, who stood near. 

Jesus sighed deeply, and groaned in spirit as 
he beheld her grief, and their mourning with 
her. His sacred countenance was marred with 
the anguish of his soul. 

‘*Rise, let us go to the grave where he lieth!’’ 
he said to them. ‘‘ Where have ye laid him?’’ 

‘‘Come, dear Lord and see,’’ answered Mary, 
taking him by the sleeve of the robe, and draw- 
ing him toward the place of the tombs in the 
vale of Olivet. 

In the meanwhile, at home, Martha had been 
diligently, and with strange cheerfulness, get- 
ting in readiness the room of Lazarus. She swept 
and dusted it, and garnished it with fresh 
flowers, which she gathered in the little garden. 

‘‘This is the rose he set out and loved. This 
is the violet which blooms immortal. I will 
place it upon his pillow,’’ she said, with a joy- 
ous hilarity, softened by the most lovely look of 
peace; while hope shone in her eyes like twin 
morning stars ushering in a glorious day. She 
spoke scarcely above her breath, and moved on 
tiptoe. 

‘*For whom is this preparation, dearest Martha? 
For Jesus?’’ I asked. 

“Oh, no! The Lord’s own room is eoty! 
Mary has prepared that. This is Lazarus’ aie 
and I am decorating it for him!”’ 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 30% 


**Dost thou truly believe that he is coming 
back from the dead?’’ I asked, between doubt 
and strange fear. 

‘*Believe! Oh, yes. I know that nothing is 
impossible with him! I doubt no more. My 
faith trembles no longer. He will raise up my 
brother, and this day he shall sit down at our 
table with us again, and this night rest his head 
in peaceful slumber upon this pillow which I am 
strewing with his favorite flowers. Never had 
house two such guests as we shall have this day 
—the Messias of God, and one come back alive 
from the dead!’ 

At this moment we heard the noise of the mul- 
titude passing by, and it being told us that Jesus 
was going to the grave, Martha, embracing me 
with a heavenly smile, drew me gently after her, 
to follow the blessed Prophet to the tomb. Al 
Bethany was in his footsteps. Wonder and 
eager expectation were on every face. There 
was no outery; no lawless uproar in the vast con- 
course, but rather a subdued undercurrent mur- 
mur of awe and curiosity. 

How shall I describe avg as he then ap- 
peared! He wore upon one shoulder, from which 
it was almost dragged by the eager hand of 
Martha, a blue garment, woven without seam 
throughout, the affectionate work and gift of the 
two sisters. His face was pale and sad, yeta 
certain divine majesty seemed resting thereon, 
so that his calm, high forehead looked like a 
throne. His large, earnest eyes, richly brown 
in hue, and darkly shaded by sable lashes, were 
full of sorrow. His chiseled mouth was com- 


308 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


pressed, but the swelling of the nether lip be- 
trayed the effort he made to suppress the out- 
bursting of his heart’s deep grief. 

Slowly he moved onward, and entering the 
cemetery, he soon stood before the tomb of his 
beloved friend. 

For a few moments he stood gazing upon the 
door of the cave in silence. There reigned an 
expectant hush among the vast throng. Mary 
knelt at his feet gazing up into his countenance 
with a sublime expression of hope and trust. 
Martha drew softly near, and fell upon her knees 
by the side of her sister. Jesus looked tenderly 
upon them, and then resting his eyes upon the 
tomb, he wept. Large, glittering tears rolled 
down his cheeks, and glanced from his flowing 
beard to the ground. One of the precious drops 
struck upon the back of my hand, as I knelt by 
the side of the sisters. 

‘“Behold how he loved him!’’ whispered the 
Jews present. 

Others said: 

‘‘Could not this man, which opened the eyes 
of the blind, have caused that even this man 
should not have died ?’’ 

Jesus, uttering a deep sigh, now came nearer 
the grave. It was, as I have before said, a cave, 
and a stone lay upon it. With a slight move- 
ment of his right hand to those who stood by, he 
said in a tone that, though low, was heard by the 
whole people so solemn was the surrounding still- 
ness: 

‘‘Take ye away the stone!”’ 

‘‘Lord,’’ said Martha, ‘‘by this time he is 
offensive, for he hath been dead four days.” 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 309 


**Daughter,’’ said Jesus, looking on her, ‘‘said 
ZT not to thee a little while since, if thou wilt 
believe that I can raise up thy brother, thou 
shalt see him alive again. Believe, and thou 
shalt behold the glory and power of God.’’ 

The men then with some difficulty took away 
the stone from the door of the sepulcher, and 
stood it upon one side. The dark vault yawned 
with gloomy horror, and so corrupt was the air 
that rushed out, all fell back from it, save Jesus 
and Mary, several steps. 

Jesus stood looking into the cave, where, as 
our eyes became accustomed to the darkness 
within, we could discern the corpse of Lazarus, 
covered with the grave mantle, and his face 
bound with the napkin which was already dis- 
colored with the sepulchral damp of the grave. 

Raising his hands toward heaven, and lifting 
up his holy eyes, which were yet moist with 
tears, Jesus said in a voice of indescribable 
pathos and earnestness of appeal, and with a 
manner of the most awful reverence: 

**Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard 
me. AndI know that thou hearest me always; 
but because of the people which stand by dol 
offer unto thee this prayer, that they may believe 
that the power I have cometh from thee, and that 
they may believe thou hast sent me. And now, 
oh Holy Father, may I glorify thee on the earth 
with the power which thou hast given me!’’ 

He then turned toward the tomb, and stretch- 
ing forth his hand, he cried with a loud voice, 
that made every heart quake: 


310 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


‘LAZARUS, COME FORTH!’’ 


My blood stood still in my heart. Scarcely 
daring to look, [looked and beheld what all eyes 
also saw, the corpse stand up within the vault, 
and turning round with its face toward us, came 
forth bound hand and foot with grave clothes, 
and his face bound about with anapkin. His 
countenance was like marble for whiteness, and 
his eyes, which were open, looked supernaturally 
brilliant. 

At beholding him, a simultaneous shriek burst 
from the bosoms of the people, and a backward 
rush of all who were nighest the cave. 

Martha, uttering her brother’s name, fell for- 
ward upon her face, and lay insensible. 

‘Loose him and let him go free!’’ said Jesus 
calmly, to the petrified and amazed men who had 
taken away the stone. Mary was the first one 
who had the firmness to approach him, and re- 
move the napkin from the sides of his face, while 
others, taking courage by her example, hastened 
to unswathe his arms and feet. In a few 
moments he was free from his outer grave clothes 
and the color of his cheeks came to him, his lips 
flushed brilliantly with red, his eyes looked 
natural, and beamed with wonder and love as he 
gazed about him. Seeing Jesus, he was about 
to cast himself at his feet in gratitude (for he 
seemed to know all that had happened), but the 
mighty Prophet drew him to his embrace and 
kissed him. Mary, at first shrinking from awe, 
now threw herself, blind with tears of joy, into 
his arms, and Martha was raised up by him to 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 811 


his manly breast, and his loved voice, breathed 
tenderly into her ear, recalled her to the con- 
sciousness of her happiness. 

But my pen refuses to find language to express 
the unspeakable emotions of joy and gratitude, 
words of love and praise, that filled all hearts. 
Lazarus, the new-born from the dead, blooming 
in the rich hues of complete health, walked 
homeward. by the side of Jesus, while the sisters 
hung upon him with deep thankfulness over- 
flowing their happy hearts. Now the great Pro- 
phet, now Lazarus, and now Jesus again, received 
the plaudits of the vast throng of people. 
Hymns were chanted to Jehovah as we passed 
through the streets, and so many fell down to 
worship Jesus that it was long before we crossed. 
the threshold of the dwelling, which Jesus did 
indeed enter with Lazarus by his side. And 
Martha did see him sit at the same table, and 
that night saw his head rest in deep slumber 
upon the flower-strewn pillow which her faith 
and love had prepared for him. 

Thus, my dear father, have I given you a reci- 
tal of the particulars of this mighty miracle, the 
report of which has filled all Jerusalem with 
amazement, and must lead the priests and the 
‘people to acknowledge Jesus to be the Messias 
of God, him of whom Moses and the Prophets 
did write. Do you doubt longer, my dear 
father? 

This letter will meet you at Gaza. With the 
hope of soon embracing you, I remain as ever, 

Your loving daughter, 
ADINA. 


812 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


LETTER XXVIII. 


My Dear Faruer: Your letter from Gaza 
came safely to my hands this morning, by the: 
courtesy of the Roman courier of the Procurator.. 
I read it with deep grief and feelings of the sad- 
dest disappointment. Instead of a letter, I 
expected to see you in person, and when I heard. 
Melee call out that a horseman had alighted at: 
the gate, I ran down into the court, crying, ‘‘My 
father, my dearest father!’’ and when, instead: 
of rushing into your embrace, I was met by the: 
mailed and helmeted figure of an armed Roman, 
O you may judge of the reaction upon my heart. 
I read your letter with tears; but you have 
taught me to bear patiently what cannot be re- 
voked, and I have schooled my impatience till 
the God of our fathers shall bring you, in his 
own good time, to your loving and longing 
daugnter. I trust that the two Arabian mer-~ 
chants from HEziongeber, whom you are delay- 
ing to see, will not be long journeying to Gaza,, 
and that on their arrival you will speedily con- 
clude the commerce, which you write it is so im- 
portant to your interests should be effected. Im 
the meanwhile I will try and wait with serenity 
and peace the day of your coming, and continue 
to write to youas the only solace which can com-- 
pensate for not beholding and speaking ‘with 
you. Like all my letters, dearest father, the 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 3135 


theme of this will be Jesus, whom I unspeakably 
rejoice to hear you are beginning to regard with. 
more favorable eyes, saying in your last letter, 
these words, which made my heart bound with 
joy: 

‘“Were I to resist the testimony of the miracles: 
which this wonderful Nazarene Prophet hath evi- 
dently done, especially that of raising Lazarus, 
the scribe, from the dead, I fear I should be 
fighting against God; for who can restore life 
and soul to the dead but Jehovah alone! The 
fame of the raising of Lazarus, as well as many 
of the other miracles which he has done, has 
reached me by other channels than your letters, 
and the accounts fully corroborate all you have 
so enthusiastically written. Nay, there is now 
here in Gaza, on his return from Damascus, to 
Alexandria, my friend, Abraham Gehazi, the silk 
merchant, who was passing through Bethany at 
the moment, and, halting with his party, wit- 
nessed the miracle. He spoke with Lazarus, and 
confesses to me that Jesus is evidently a mighty 
Prophet, sent from God! ThisI am ready to 
believe, also, my daughter; and when I behold 
him I am ready to do him the homage I would 
offer to Isaiah or Daniel, were they now alive. 
That he is the Christ, I cannot yet believe; for 
Christ is to be a prince and king, and to sit om 
the throne of David, and give laws to the nations; 
before whom every crowned head shall fall pros- 
trate, every knee bow in reverence, and at whose 
feet the scepters of the earth shall be laid in sub- 
ynission! A humble carpenter’s son, prophet of 
God though he may be, cannot realize the idea 


314 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


of the person of the Messias! Turn to Hsaias, 
and behold how his language glitters with the 
splendor of the prophesies he enunciates of the 
power, glory, and dominion on earth, of the Son 
of David! How can these prophetic words apply 
to the prophet whom you love to honor? That 
the hand of the Lord is upon him, and that 
mighty works show forth themselves in him, 
doubtless cannot be disputed; but that he is the 
Shiloh of Jacob, the kingly Lion of the tribe of 
Judah, I cannot, for a moment, entertain the 
idea; for if I accept him as Messias, neither 
have I, nor my countrymen at large in Israel, 
nor the scribes, nor the fathers in Jerusalem, 
read the Prophets aright, but rather with eyes 
blindfolded; for to Jesus they do not, cannot 
aim, else we have altogether misunderstood what 
is written in Moses and in the Prophets, and in 
the Psalms, concerning the Christ.’’ 

Such, my dear father, is a part of your letter, 
which I quote, in order to reply to it, if I may 
do so, without presumption. 

You confess, dearest father, that you are at 
length convinced that Jesus is a Prophet, and 
that God is with him, for he could not do such 
great miracles, except the power of God was 
upon him. Now, if God co-operates with Jesus; 
if God, so to speak, lends him his power, endows 
him with his own attributes, so that, like God, 
he heals, stills tempests, restores lost limbs, 
raises the dead from their graves alive again, it 
is because God has chosen him from among men, 
in order to clothe him with his mighty and 
divine attributes. Now that he chose him, and 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 815 


invested him therewith, it is evident that he did 
so because he delights in him; because he loves 
him, and would greatly honor him. To be the 
chosen recipient, by the Lord God Jehovah, of 
such mighty powers, Jesus must be good, must 
be holy, pious, and full of those holy virtues in 
which the Almighty delights; in a word, God 
must approve of his character and be content 
with whatsoever is done by him. 

Now Jesus, thus favored by God, whose power 
to work miracles you yourself, my dear father, 
have confessed must be conferred by Jehovah 
alone, distinctly and everywhere asserts that he 
is Messias, the son of God, the Shiloh of Israel, 
of whom Moses and the Prophets so eloquently 
wrote. Besides claiming for himself this high 
character, he was heard, both by my uncle Amos 
and myself, in the synagogue at Bethany, two 
days after he raised Lazarus from the dead, to 
read from Esaias the words following, and apply 
them to himself, which he had done also before 
at Nazareth: 

‘“The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because 
he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the 
poor: he hath sent me to heal the broken- 
hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, 
and recovery of sight to the blind: to set at 
liberty them that are bruised: to preach the ac- 
ceptable year of the Lord.”’ 

When he had read this prophecy, which all 
our people, dear father, do acknowledge to refer 
to Messias, when he cometh, he closed the book, 
and gave it again to the officiating scribe, and 
sat down. The synagogue was thronged, so that 


416 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


people trod one upon another; for the fame of 
dis miracles had brought people to hear and see 
him, not only from Jerusalem, but from all Judea, 
and Decapolis, and beyond Jordan; nay, his 
fame, it seemeth, is spread abroad in all the 
world. All eyes are now intent, and all ears are 
ready to hear what he should speak. He then 
said unto them, ‘‘This day is this Scripture ful- 
filled in your ears. Ye ask me, oh scribes and 
men of Israel, to tell you plainly who I am, ~ 
whether I am the Christ or no. What saith the 
Prophet of the Messias when he shall come? 
Ye have just heard his words. If such works as 
he prophesieth do show forth themselves in me, 
ye know who I am.”’ 

Here a voice cried out in the assembly: 

*“Yell us plainly, art thou the Christ, the Son 
of the Highest ?’’ 

At this direct inquiry there was intense inter- 
est shown to hear the reply. 

Jesus was about to answer, when a man, who 
stood near the reading desk, in whom was an 
unclean spirit, cried out, with a shrieking voice 
of mingled terror and awe: 

‘‘Let me alone! Leave me asI am, thou Jesus 
of Nazareth! Art thou come hither to destroy 
me? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of 
God ?’’ 

Upon this Jesus turned to the multitude, and 
said: ‘‘The very devils bear witness to me, who 
Iam! andif these should hold their peace, these 
walls would find voices, and speak.’’ Then Jesus 
rebuked the devil which possessed the man (who 
was Jaius, a Roman proselyte of the gate, who 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. S17 


had ivung spread terror in the suburbs, by his ex- 
ceeding madness and ferocity), and said to the 
devil, in a voice of a master commanding a bond 
slave: 

*‘Hold thy peace, Satan! The Son of Man 
needeth not, though thou givest it, thy testi- 
mony. Hold thy peace, and come out of the 
man!’’ 

At this word the man uttered a fearful cry of 
despair and rage, and foaming at the mouth, 
cast himself, or rather was thrown down by the 
devil within him, to the ground; where, after a 
moment’s terrific struggle, with contortions of 
bodily anguish, he lay senseless as if dead. 
Jesus took him by the hand, and he stood up, 
and looking in the face of the Prophet with ear- 
nestness and wonder, he burst into tears of grati- 
tude, exclaiming: 

*‘T am escaped as a bird out of the snare of the 
fowler; the snare is broken, and I am escaped. 
God hath delivered me out of the hand of my 
enemy!’’ He then sat at the feet of Jesus calm, 
grateful, happy, and in his right mind, while all 
gazed on him with wonder; while from the great 
mass of the people rose a great shout (for they 
were all amazed), saying: 

‘“This is none other than the Christ, the son 
of David! This is the king of Israel!’’ While 
the loud shouts of ‘‘Hosanna! hosanna! hosan- 
na!’’ cheered by a thousand voices, ‘‘ Hosanna to 
our king!’’ shook like a passing storm the syna- 
gogue. 

At this, when the noise had a little subsided, 
some of the Scribes and Pharisees said, reproving 
him for not rebuking these cries: 


318 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


‘Who is this that suffereth himself to be hailed 
as king! This is treason to the emperor!’’ 

At this moment Aimilius, the Roman knight, 
appeared at the door of the synagogue, attended 
by half a dozen soldiers, he happening to be 
passing at the moment on some duty, and stopped 
to listen. Nosooner did the eyes of these wicked 
Jews catch the gleam of his helmet, and behold 
his tall plume rising above the head of his 
people, than they cried out, with eager loyalty, 
to their conquerors, at the same time looking at 
AMmilius, to get his approbation: 

‘“We have no king but Cesar! Down with the 
traitor! He who maketh himself king rebels 
against our most mighty emperor. Away with 
him. Arrest him, most noble Roman! Drag 
him before the Procurator Pilate!’’ 

ZEmilius—who well understands these envious 
Jews, and who is wise in the knowledge of what 
Jesus teaches, and who loves him as a brother, 
and reveres him as a father—Amilius remained 
quiet, giving no signs that he would do the will 
of these wicked enemies of the Prophet. Jesus 
then said, in a loud, clear voice: 

‘*My kingdom is not of this world! I seek not 
an earthly throne or earthly scepter. My king- 
dom is from above. Ye say truly, I am king,”’ 
he added, with indescribable majesty of manner; 
‘f‘and hereafter ye shall behold me sitting upon 
the throne of heaven, high and lifted up, with 
the earth my footstool, and before me every knee 
shall bow, of things in heaven, of things on 
earth, and things under the earth!’’ 

When he had thus far spoken, he could not 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 319 


proceed further, on account of the sudden and 
immense uproar which his words produced. 
Some shouted ‘‘hosannas;’’ others said he blas- 
phemed; one cried for the Roman guard, another 
for the priests, to eject him from the tribune; 
many rushed toward him, to cast themselves at 
his feet, while many, putting their fingers in 
their ears, hurried forth from the synagogue, 
erying: 

‘‘His blasphemies will cause the house to fall 
upon us, and crush us!’’ 

Never was such an uproar heard. Inthe midst 
of it Jesus conveyed himself away, none knew 
where; and when I returned to the house of 
Martha, I heard his low, earnest, touching voice 
in prayer to God, in his little chamber. He had 
sought its sacred quiet to be alone with his 
Father in heaven! At times I could hear him 
praying and supplicating in tones of the most 
heart-breaking pathos; at others, the silence of 
his room was only broken at intervals by sighs 
and pitiful groans, that seemed to come from a 
breaking and crushed heart! Oh, what hand 
may remove the veil, and reveal what passed 
there in that holy retirement between the Pro- 
phet and his God! It was late in the day when 
he came forth, Martha having softly tapped at 
his door to say that the evening meal was pre- 
pared, and alone waited for him. When he ap- 
peared, his face was colorless and bore traces of 
weeping, and though he smiled kindly upon us 
all, as he was wont to do, there was a deep- 
seated sorrow upon his countenance that brought 
tears to my eyes! Admilius joined us at the 


320 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


table, and with dear Lazarus and with Uncle 
Amos, we passed a sacred hour; for the Prophet 
ate not, but talked to us much and sweetly of the 
love of God; and as all listened, the viands were 
forgotten, notwithtanding Martha more than 
once ventured to remind her blessed guest that 
such and such a thing was before him, and that 
she had prepared it for him with her own hands. 
But, like him, we all feasted upon the heavenly 
food, the bread of life, which fell, like manna,from 
his consecrated lips. 

Such, then, my dear father, is the testimony, 
as you have seen, in what I have above related, 
which Jesus publicly bears to himself, that he is 
the very Christ who should come into the world. 
There can be no further doubt of the fact now 
that he has so plainly stated it, pointing to the 
prophecies, which he is daily fulfilling by mighty 
works, in proof of the truth of his assertion. 

Now to what irresistible conclusion, to what 
inevitable consequence, do we arrive? Is it not 
that He isthe Christ? This result cannot be 
avoided. Either Jesus is Messias, as he assert# 
and his miracles prove, or he is not. Now if he 
is not, then he is an impostor and a falsifier, as 
well as a fearful blasphemer of Jehovah! If he 
is these three, we then have the Almighty con- 
ferring upon an impostor his own Almighty 
attributes, giving him power to heal, to cast out 
devils, to control the elements, to raise the dead! 
that is, bearing testimony to the truth of one 
whom He never sent, empowered, nor authorized 
_, to be his Christ, and in whom there is no truth. 
'- Moreover, the miracles of Jesus, you admit, 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. ork 


prove him to have come from God, while you 
deny his claim to be Messias. Now, if Jesus 
truly came from God, as, looking at his miracu- 
lous power, you readily admit, he cannot bea 
sinner: he, therefore, cannot assert of himself 
what is not true. Yet he asserts that he is the 
Christ. He, then, either did come from God, or 
he is a deceiver, and there is no truth in him! 
But you will not consent to charge such char- 
acter upon aman who heals with a word, who 
casts out demons, who raises the dead to life, and 
who proclaims such pure precepts, and the neces- 
sity of holiness in men, in order to enjoy the 
favor of God! We, therefore, are forced to the 
irresistible conclusion that either the miraculous 
power with which Jesus is invested did come 
from God, and that he is, as he says, the true 
and very Christ of the prophets and patriarchs, 
or that God has endowed a blasphemer of his 
name, an impostor, with his own powers, and 
indorses the imposture by continuing these 
powers to him in every miracle that he performs. 
Jesus is, therefore, the Christ. Do not, by any 
artful subterfuge, dearest father, attempt to avoid 
this conclusion! Jesus is the Christ, or we make 
both God and the Prophet liars and copartners 
in ah enormous imposture! Jesus is Christ, and 
let God be true, though all men be found liars. 

Pardon me, dearest father, if I have been too 
warm and urgent in my efforts to bring you to 
accept Jesus as the Christ. Convinced as I am 
that he is Messias, I cannot but ardently desire 
that you, also, should come to the knowledge of 
this truth. What he is yet to be, how he is yet 


322 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


to develop his majesty and power, is unknown to 
us all. Some do think that he will enter Jeru- 
salem ere long attended by tens of thousands of 
his followers, and that before him Pilate will 
peaceably vacate his Procuratoral chair and re- 
tire, not only from the Holy City, but from 
Judea, with his legions; and that Jesus will 
ascend the throne of David; the glory of the age 
of Solomon be revived under his rule; and with © 
the kingdom of Judah for the centre of his 
power, he will extend the scepter of his dominion 
from sea to sea, and from the river of Egypt and 
of the East tothe ends of the earth, till all 
nations shall fall down before him, emperors and 
kings sit at his feet, and every tongue and lan- 
guage and speech in the whole world acknowl- 
edge him to be the King of Israel, King of kings 
and Lord of lords; while under the splendor of 
his reign Jerusalem and Judah will be more 
powerful than all the cities and kingdoms that 
have ever been on the earth, and to the dominion 
and glory of our people there will be no end. 

Such, dear father, is the future of Jesus, as 
looked for by all his disciples, save one, and this 
is John, the betrothed of my cousin Mary. He 
is more closely intimate with Jesus than any 
other man; and is so beloved by him that he 
makes known to him many things which he with- 
holds from the rest. John, on hearing our views 
of the coming glory of the Prophet, looks sadly, 
and says: 

‘“Not now—not here—not in this world! The 
glory of Jesus you will behold, but first we must 
pass through the valley of darkness, the gate of 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 323 


the tomb. His kingdom is not on the earth, but 
in the heavens. Here, I fear, he will pass 
through suffering and sorrow, and, perhaps, a 
painful death, for he has told me that he came 
to suffer and die, and that he can only win, 
bleeding from every vein, the kingdom over 
which he is hereafter to reign in endless domin- 
ion. Prepare your hearts, dear friends,’’ he 
would say, ‘“‘to be rent, and your eyes for tears, 
rather than fill your imaginations with pictures 
of glory, splendor and power. He has distinctly 
said to me, ‘I must first suffer many things at 
the hands of men, before I enter upon my reign 
of glory. The Jews will seek me to kill me, and 
I shall be taken from among you; but let not 
sorrow fill your hearts. Death can have no 
power over me save such as I permit it to hold. 
I lay down my life, and I takeitagain. Through 
much tribulation and sorrow must the Son of 
God win the scepter of this earth from him who 
hath the power over the nations, even from Satan, 
the prince of this world. I shall conquer, but I 
must firstfall. Yet fearnot! Ishall make death 
the gateway to paradise for you all!’ 

‘‘Such,’’ says John, ‘‘are the mysterious and 
sorrowful words which he has often spoken to 
me. What they mean, or how to understand 
them, I know not; for I cannot comprehend how 
he who can raise the dead can die, or how he 
who can calm a tempest can suffer himself to be 
taken and siain by men, the tempest of whose 
wrath he could as easily pacify!’’ 

Thus, dear father, do we discourse together 
about this wonderful Prophet, whose future life 


324 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


is all a mystery, save that, from the prophecies, 
we know it is to be inconceivably glorious, but 
from his own lips, first to be inconceivably sor- 
rowful. But whether on a throne, giving laws 
to the world, or in the dust, borne down by the 
deepest woe, I shall still love, honor, reverence 
Him, and trust in Him, as my Savior, my 
Prince, and the Holy One of God! 
Your devoted and loving 
ADINA. 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 325 


LETTER XXIX. 


‘My Dearest Farner: With what emotions of 
grief and amazement I commence this letter yoru 
can form no justconception. Jesus, the Prophet 
of God, is a prisoner to the Roman power! He 
is accused of making himself a king, and of a 
conspiracy to re-establish the throne of David! 
And who, think you, have accused him of this 
noble effort but the Jews, our own, his own 
people! men who should glory in seeing the 
dominion of the Caesars at an end; men who 
should blush longer to have Mount Zion com- 
manded by a Roman citadel. ‘These base, de- 
graded, and wicked scribes and priests, whom 
I am ashamed to call my countrymen, have ac- 
cused the divinely-gifted Jesus, before Pilate, of 
rebellion and treason! And at this moment, 
while I write, he is in the wardroom of the 
Procurator’s palace, held a close prisoner. 

But I fear not the issue! He cannot be holden 
of his foes, save by his own free will. He can, 
with a word, turn his chains into bands of sand, 
and by a glance render his guards dead men! 
He will therefore escape their bonds. They can 
have no power over him. But will not the Lord 
God punish our nation for this sin and enmity 
against His Christ? You will ask, my father, 
why, if he possesses such mighty power, hath he 


826 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID, 


suffered himself to be taken prisoner? ‘This 
question I cannot answer. It troubles me. I 
wonder, and am transfixed with amazement. 
Every one around me asks the same question. 
Our house is thronged with his friends, who, 
midnight as it is, have come hither to hear if the 
rumor is true. JTF ive of his disciples are with 
Uncle*Amos in the court, giving an account of the 
manner of his arrest, which I will relate to you, 
although it increases the mystery. 

It seems that to-day, after eating the Passover 
with his twelve chosen friends, he went forth 
with them toward Olivet, and there seating him- 
self beneath the shade of a tree, he talked with 
them very sadly, saying that his hour was come, 
that he had ended his work, and that he was 
about to be delivered into the hands of sinful 
men. 

John, upon being questioned by Cousin Mary 
and myself, thus told us: It was evening, and 
the south side of Olivet lay in deep shadow. We 
were all sorrowful. We felt each one of us as if 
some grievous evil was pending over us. The 
tones of our beloved Master’s voice moved us to 
tears, as much as his words, which latter were 
full of mystery. We were all present, except 
Iscariot, who had remained in the city to dis- 
charge the costs, he being our purse-bearer, of 
the Passover Supper, and pay for the hire of the 
room. At that supper Jesus had said very 
plainly that one of our number would betray 
him into the hands of the priests; who, since his 
triumphant entry into the Holy City, preceded 
and followed by the multitude, shouting 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 322 


hosannas, and proclaiming him Messias, had dili- 
gently sought his life. At hearing our Lord say 
these strange words in accents of touching re- 
eroach we were all deeply moved; and Peter and 
the rest at once questioned him, individually, if 
it were they. I was resting at the moment with 
my cheek on the shoulder of Jesus, and said, 
softly, ‘‘Lord, who is it that betrayeth thee? I 
will forthwith lay hands upon him, and prevent 
his doing thee harm!’’ Jesus shook his head, 
and smiling gently, said: 

‘“My beloved brother, thou knowest not what 
thou wouldest do. The Son of Man must needs 
be betrayed by his own friends, but woe unto 
him who betrayeth me. See thou who dippeth 
bread with me into the dish!’’ 

‘ Tlooked, and saw Judas reach forward, and 
dip into the dish at the same instant in which 
Jesus dipped; but in his eagerness, or from con- 
scious guilt, his hand trembled, he spilled the 
salt on the board, and the sop fell from his grasp 
into the bowl; upon which Jesus gave him the 
piece he held, saying to him, with a remarkable 
expression in his clear, piercing eyes: ‘‘Judas, 
what thou doest do quickly !’’ 

We were surprised at the tone and manner in 
which this was spoken, but supposed the com- 
mand had reference to some of Judas’ duties, 
little suspecting what fearful thing he was to do. 
Instantly Judas rose from the table, and without 
a word, or casting a look at any of us, went out. 

For a few moments after his footsteps had 
ceased to be heard, there prevailed a heavy 
silence in the chamber; for a strange fear had 


328 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


fallen upon us; why we could not tell, and look- 
ing into one another’s faces, and then into our 
dear Master’s, we seemed to await some dread 
event. His face was placid, and full of affection, 
as he looked upon us. The momentary cloud, 
which shaded the noble profile when he spoke to 
Judas, had passed off, and there was the serenity 
of a cloudless sky in his face. 

‘*My children,’’ he said, ‘‘I am to be with you 
but a little while longer. The hour of my de- 
parture is at hand. Remember my last words— 
Love one another! In this shall all men know 
that ye are my disciples. ’”’ 

‘‘Lord,’’ cried Peter, ‘‘we will go with thee! 
Thou shalt not leave us! nor go without us!’’ 

‘““The priests seek to kill thee, and thy foot- 
steps are watched!’’ exclaimed Andrew earnestly. 

‘Yes, we will not suffer thee, dear Rabbi, to 
go abroad alone,’’ said James, with enthusiasm; | 
‘four hearts and hands will defend thee!’’ 

‘*Whither wilt thou depart, Lord?’’ I asked, 
with emotion. ‘‘Thou wilt not trust thyself to 
the Jews?’’ 

Thus we all, eagerly and tearfully, gathered 
around him, alarmed and grieved at the words 
he had said. Heregarded us lovingly, and said: 

‘*Little children, I must leave you. Whither 
I go you cannot come!”’ 

‘*Though thou wentest to the uttermost parts 
of the sea, I will follow thee, my Master and 
Lord!’’ exclaimed Peter. ‘‘Whither goest thou, 
that we may notfollow? I will lay down my life 
for thee, and so will all these!’’ 

With one voice we asserted our devotion to 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 329 


our beloved Master, and secretly I asked him 
whither he intended to go, and why he forbade 
us to go with him? 

‘*As Abraham bound Isaac his son, and laid 
him upon the wood, so shall my Father cause me 
to be bound and laid upon the wood, and shall 
slay me, a sacrifice for the sins of his people!”’ 

‘Not so! not so! Lord,’’ cried Peter. ‘‘I will 
die for thee, ere a hair of thy head shall fall.’’ 
And the warm-hearted disciple drew his sword 
and placed himself by the side of Jesus, as if to 
defend him. 

‘“Wilt thou die for me, Peter?’’ said Jesus, 
gazing on him with a sad, sweet look: ‘‘ Verily, 
verily, Peter, thou little knowest thyself. The 
cock shall not crow twice, heralding the coming 
morning, ere thou shalt thrice deny that thou 
knowest me!’’ 

*‘“Deny thee, Lord!’’ repeated Peter, with 
amazed grief and horror in his looks. 

*“Yes, Peter,’’? answered Jesus firmly, but 
kindly; ‘‘deny that you ever knew me! for the 
time draweth near when there will be safety only 
in confessing ignorance of Jesus the Nazarene. 
And all of you,’’ he added, while his voice grew 
tremulous, and tears glistened in his eyes, ‘‘all 
of you shall be offended because of me, this 
night; ye shall be ashamed to confess that you 
are my disciples, and ye will think me a deceiver, 
and will be displeased at me. Yea, every one of 
you shall desert me; for thus it is written: ‘The 
Shepherd shall be smitten, and the sheep shall 
be scattered!’ ”’ 

At hearing these words, we knew not what to 


a0 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


answer; but I kissed my dear Lord’s hand, and 
said that if danger were hanging over him, as it 
seemed, I would share it with him! 

When he saw that our hearts were troubled, 
and that we were sad, and that the faithful Philip 
sobbed aloud, at being supposed capable of aban- 
doning his Master, he added, ‘‘Let not your 
hearts be troubled; I go to prepare a place for 
you in my Father’s house!’’ 

‘“Thy father, Lord, liveth at Nazareth, and 
hath but two small apartments in his humble 
house,’’ said Thomas; ‘‘how sayest thou that we 
are all to lodge there!’’ 

‘““Thomas, thou canst understand only what 
thine eyes see. I speak of my Father who is in 
heaven. In His house are many mansions. ’’ 

Jesus then began plainly to tell us that he was 
to die, and that by his death we should be 
admitted into a heavenly paradise, and live for- 
ever. We could not understand all he said, but 
we knew that he was soon to be taken from us; 
and sorrow filled all our hearts. After discoursing 
with us in the most touching words, he at length 
sald : ; 

‘“‘Come, let us go over Kedron, to the garden 
we so much loved to walk in.”’ 

We went out with him, inclosing him as a 
guard, to conceal his person from the Jewish 
spies, as well as to defend him. Peter and 
James went before with drawn swords. In this 
way we passed through the gloomy streets, and 
forth from the gate, which Pilate suffered to be 
open day and night on account of the crowds at 
the Passover, coming in and going out. The 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 331 


moon shining brightly, and by its light glancing 
on the face of Jesus, by whom I walked, I saw 
that it was sadder than its wont, while he spoke 
but little. 

We at length crossed the Kedron, and entered 
the dark groves of Olivet. Familiar with all the 
paths, we advanced toa central group of the 
venerable Olivet trees beneath which Abraham 
used to sit, and there Jesus, turning to us, said, 
in a voice of the deepest woe: 

‘‘Friends, the hour of my time of trial is come! 
My work is ended. JI would be alone! Remain 
you here, and watch, for we shall be sought for. 
Come with me, Peter, and you, also, James. I 
am going to pray yonder.’’ 

~**Not take me, also, dear Lord?’’ I said sor- 
rowtully. 

**Yes, thou art always with me, beloved,’’ he 
answered; ‘‘I will not leave thee now.’”’ 

So leaving the eight friends to keep watch 
against the intrusion of his enemies, who were 
known to be everkwhere seeking him, he walked 
away to the most secluded recesses of the garden. 
He stopped at the place, near the rock, where 
Adam is said to have hidden from Jehovah, and 
saying to us, in a sorrowful tone: ‘‘Tarry ye 
here, while I go apart, and pray to my Father,’’ 
he went from us about astone’s cast, and kneeled 
down where a thick olive branch, hanging low 
to the ground, concealed him from our view. I 
was so solicitous lest he should leave us, and we 
should see him no more, that I soon softly ad- 
vanced near tothe spot, and beheld him prostrate 
en the ground, while deep groans broke from his 


332 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


heart. I heard his voice murmuring, but could 
not distinguish the words, broken by grief; only 
the tones were those of strange horror and dread. 

As he prayed thus, in great agony, I suddenly 
beheld a swift ight pass by me, as if from the 
skies, and an angel stood by the side of Jesus, 
bending over him, and raising him up from the 
ground. A soft bright glory shone around the 
spot, so that Peter, seeing it, advanced toward 
me, supposing some one had entered the garden, 
bearing a torch. I beckoned to Peter to be 
motionless, and he gazed with me in speechless 
astonishment and admiration upon the form of 
the angel, from whose glorious face was emitted 
the radiance which illumined the place where 
Jesus was. As the angel raised Jesus from the 
ground, we saw that his countenance was con- 
vulsed with anguish; and upon his brow stood 
great shining drops of sweat, mingled with blood 
which oozed from his pallid temples, and rolling 
down his marble cheeks, dropped to the ground. 
Never had we beheld a human visage so marred 
by sorrow, so deeply graven with the lines of 
agony. 

The angel seemed to utter soothing words, and 
pointed with his shining hand toward heaven, 
as if to encourage him with hope and give him 
strength. The face of Jesus grew more serene; 
he raised his eyes with a divine expression of 
holy submission, and said, in a strong voice: 

‘““Thy will, not mine, O God, be done!’’ 

The angel then seemed to embrace and kiss 
him, and rose and disappeared, like a star re- 
turning into the blue depths of heaven; while 


ra) 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. a00 


Peter and I stood by wondering, and full of awe, 
at what we saw. 

‘““How looked the angel?’’ I asked of my 
cousin John, interrupting him in his recital. 

**As a young and noble youth, with a counte- 
nance so dazzling I could not look upon him 
steadily. He seemed to be clothed in flowing 
raiment, silvery white; and fragrance more 
delicate and grateful than the subilest attar of 
roses of India was diffused by his presence 
througnout the garden, while the sound of his 
voice seemed to fill all the air with strange 
musical vibrations, unlike anything heard on 
earth. ’’ 

‘‘Had the angel wings?’’ asked my cousin 
Mary. 

‘‘Nay, I could not well discern,’’ answered 
John. ‘‘His robes seemed to shape themselves 
into wings, as he rose from the earth; and when 
he stood they flowed with living grace about his 
godlike form. After the departure of the angel, 
Jesus seemed calmer, and as we did not wish 
longer to intrude upon his sacred privacy, we 
softly returned to where James lay asleep. We 
remained for some time conversing together upon 
the wonderful vision we kad seen, which con- 
firmed us in the certainty that Jesus came from 
God, and was in truth the Messias that should 
come; but at length, wearied with our day’s ex- 
citements, we must have fallen asleep, for we 
were suddenly startled by the voice of our dear 
Master, saying: 

*“Why sleep ye, children? But the hour is 
past for watching. Ye may sleep on now, for 


> 


vot PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


though your flesh is weary, your spirit is wili- 
ing. I need your aid no longer!’’ 

But we refused to sleep longer. We then ad- 
vanced to where the other disciples were, and 
found them also asleep. 

‘‘Arise, let us be going!’’ cried Jesus, in a 
tone that roused them to their feet; ‘‘they are 
at hand who seek me!”’ 

While he was speaking, we saw many lights 
gleaming through the trees, along King David’s 
walk, and the tramp of feet fell on our ears. We 
goon saw a large party advancing into the midst 
of the gardea, who walked rapidly, and spoke 
only in undertones. Weat once took the alarm, 
and said to Jesus: 

‘‘Fly, dear Master! Let us ascend the hill, 
and escape by the way to Bethany; for these are 
enemies.’ . 

‘‘Nay,’’ answered our dear Master; ‘‘I must 
submit to my Father’s will. It must needs be 
that I deliver myself into the hands of these men; 
how else shall the Scriptures be fulfilled! Seek 
safety in flight for yourselves; but I must go 
whither they will lead me.’’ 

‘“Not so, Lord,’’ answered Peter. ‘‘There is 
time for thee to escape; or if not, we will stand 
by thee, and defend thee!’’ 

So said all the disciples. Jesus shook his 
head, and said, with a sad smile, ‘‘Ye know not 
now what ye say, or would do. My hour is 
come!’’ 

While he yet spake, the multitude drew nearer, 
and those who had the lead, raising their torches 
high above their heads, discovered us, with Jesus 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 335 


In the midst. To my surprise I beheld Judas 
acting as their guide, for he alone knew where 
his Master was to be found at that hour. Upon 
discovering Jesus, this wicked man ran forward, 
with expressions of attachment in his face, and 
kissed Jesus on the cheek, saying: 

‘‘Hail, Master! Iam glad I have found thee!’’ 

‘‘Judas,’’ said Jesus, ‘‘betrayest thou the Son 
of Man with a kiss!’’ 

When Judas heard this, he turned to the mul- 
titude, at the head of which I recognized some 
of the chief priests, and most learned scribes of 
the Temple, and cried aloud: 

‘*This is he! seize him, and hold him fast!’’ 

Thereupon the crowd, to the number of ten- 
score men, among whom were the vilest sort of 
people, rushed forward to lay hands upon Jesus: 
the moon and torches shedding almost the bright 
light of day upon the whole group. 

At seeing them advance so furiously with 
spears, and clubs, and swords, Peter and James 
placed themselves before Jesus to defend him, 
while I, being unarmed, cast myself across his 
breast to shield his heart with my body. The 
more bold men in the crowd coming too near, 
Peter smote one of them with his sword as he 
was reaching out his arm to grasp Jesus by the 
shoulder, and clave off his ear. At seeing this 
the crowd uttered a fierce shout, and were press- 
ing upon us, when Jesus raised the palm of his 
hand, and said quietly: 

*“Whom seek ye?”’ 

Instantly the whole mass rolled backward, like 
a receding billow rebounding from the face of an 


336 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAYVIB. 


immovable rock, and every man fell with his 
forehead to the ground, where they lay fora 
minute stunned; and we twelve stood alone, save 
Judas, who had not been struck down, and now 
remained gazing with amazement and terror 
upon the prostrate enemies of Jesus. 

‘‘Lord!’’ cried Peter, astonished, ‘‘if thou 
canst thus repel thy foes, thou needest not fear 
them more. Shall I smite Judas also?’’ 

‘‘Nay—put up thy sword, Peter! Let him 
remain to witness my power, that he may see 
that he nor his have any power over me, save 
what I give them.’’ 

While he was thus speaking, the men rose to 
their feet, and instead of flying, they seemed to 
be infuriated at their discomfiture; and as the 
chief priests cried out thatit was by sorcery they 
had been stricken down, they rushed madly for- 
ward, and laid their hands upon Jesus, and upon 
us all. In vain I contended against numbers to 
rescue Jesus! in vain the sword of the valiant 
Peter flashed in the torchlight and fell upon the 
heads of the captors; overpowered by numbers, 
we were defeated, and driven from the field of 
contest, leaving Jesus in the hands of his enemies! 

When John had gone thus far in his relation, 
dear father, our tears and his were mingled. We 
wondered that Jesus, who could, as he had 
shown, destroy his enemies with a wave of his 
band, should suffer them to make him their pris- 
oner; for in their hands he knew he must die! 
This amazes and bewilders us. At one moment 
we are tempted to lose our confidence in him, 
and believe, as many now begin to say, that we 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 337 


have been following a deceiver, and in the next 
to trust fully in him, and that he will yet over- 
come his enemies, and be restored to us. Every 
step we hear at the door makes our blood bound, 
for we think it may be our beloved Lord escaped 
from the hands of his captors. We must wait 
the issue with hope and faith! To-morrow will, 
perhaps, reveal all. The mystery that envelops 
this great Prophet is inscrutable. The seeming 
contradictions that make up his character be- 
wilder us. But we try and comfort ourselves 
with the word of his promise: 

**Ye know not now; but ye shall know by and 
by, and shall believe truly that I came out from 
God! What seems to you mysterious shall be 
made clear as light. Wait, and have faith, and 
all shall be made known which now you under- 
stand not. Letnotrials and degradations ye see 
me pass through cause your faith to fail. Iam 
come into this world to conquer; but it is ex- 
pedient first that I humble myself; but if I stoop, 
it 1s to raise up the world with me, when I rise 
again!’’ 

Ah, itis stooping, indeed, for this Prince of 
the Prophets to suffer himself to be led away 
bound by his foes! But we hope with trembling, 
dear father, remembering his words! 

I have omitted to mention to you what more 
John related, touching the arrest of the Prophet. 
As the chief priests bound and laid their hands 
on him, there was heard above in the air the 
sound of myriads of rushing wings, and the 
gathering signal of a trumpet echoing in the 
skies, as if a countless host of invisible beings 


338 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


were marshaling, armies by armies, in the mid- 
heaven. At this fearful and sublime sound alk 
raised their heads, but saw nothing; and Jesus 
said, with a majestic and commanding look, such 
as I never before beheld upon his face: 

‘Ye hear,’’ he said to us, ‘‘thatI am not with- 
out heavenly friends! I have only to pray my 
Father, which is in heaven, and He will bid 
twelve legions of his angels, now : hovering, 
sword-armed, in the air, and yearning to defend 
me, descend to my aid! ButI may not use my 
powers for myself. I came on earth to suffer. 
As aman, I must submit to all things that come 
upon me; nor make use of more means in my 
behalf than a man can do! For this I came into 
the world. Lead on, I go with you!’’ 

Thus, dear father, was Jesus borne away by a 
fierce multitude, and dragged into the city, fol- 
lowed by a shouting and insulting crowd, who, 
seeing that notwithstanding his miraculous 
powers they could secure and hold him, mocked 
him only the move, making light of powers which 
could not prevent the capture of his person. 
Some even reviled him on the way, and asked him 
to call down the twelve legions of angels; while 
others said they were hungry and thirsty, and 
would have him turn water into wine for them, 
and give them bread by another miracle of loaves. 

John, whose interest in, and affection for Jesus 
led him to follow them, disguised in a Roman 
soldier’s cloak, heard all this; but Jesus made 
no answer, only walking quietly along, patiently 
enduring all they said and did. 

As they entered the Damascus gate, the Roman 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 339 


guard, seeing the immense crowd and uproar, 
stopped them to learn the cause of the com- 
motion. 

‘“‘We have here a traitor and conspirator, O 
captain of the guard,’’ answered Eli, the chief 
priest; ‘‘a pestilent fellow, who calls himself 
Christ, a king. We have, therefore, with this 
band of hired soldiers, taken him, as he was met 
secretly with twelve of his fellow conspirators, 
plotting to overthrow the government of Cesar, 
and make himself king of Judea.’’ 

‘Long live Cesar! Long live the emperor!’’ 
shouted the Roman soldiers. ‘‘We have no king 
but Augustus Imperator!’’ 

Upon this, many of the soldiers cried, ‘‘Take 
him before the Procurator! He will give him 
his deserts, who would take his Procuratorship 
from him! To Pilate! To Pilate!’’ 

‘To Annas!’’ shouted the Jews. ‘‘First, to 
Annas!’’ 

Then, with some shouting one thing, and 
others another thing, and with vast numbers of 
those who had come up to the Passover pressing 
to get sight of the Prophet, he was hurried 
toward the house of Annas, who is the most pop- 
ular man among our people, and whose influence 
over them is unbounded. On reaching, with 
great uproar of voices, and by the light of 
torches, the dwelling of the High Priest’s son- 
in-law, they called him to the roof of the house, 
to which he came in his night apparel; for it was 
by this time near the hour of midnight. 

When Annas knew that the prisoner was Jesus, 
he uttered a fearful oath of joy and wicked satis- 


340 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


faction, and coming down into the court, bade 
them bring the prisoner in. The calm majesty 
of Jesus abashed him, and checked the course of 
insulting questions he began to put to him. At 
length, finding that the Prophet would make him 
no reply, he caused him to be bound still more 
closely, and sent him to Caiaphas the High 
Priest, saying to him: 

‘‘Caiaphas will find voice for thy tongue, O 
Prophet! So, thou wouldst destroy the Temple, 
and callest thyself the Lord Jehovah! Out, blas- 
phemer! Away with him, or the house will be 
swallowed up with the presence of one so im- 
pious. Away with the blasphemer! Pilate will 
make thee king in truth, and give thee a Roman 
throne, to which, so that thou mayest not pres- 
ently fall from it, he will nail thee, foot and 
hand!’’ 

At this the crowd shouted their approbation, 
and many cried: 

‘<To the cross! to the cross with him!’’ 

But others said: ‘‘Nay, but to Caiaphas.’’ 
While the Roman soldiers asserted that he should 
be taken before Pilate. 

With renewed uproar, they tumultuously 
pressed forward, their way lighted by the red 
glare of a hundred torches. John followed, but 
being recognized as one of his disciples, by a 
soldier in Aimilius’ legion, he was seized, and 
only escaped by leaving his cloak in the hands of 
the rude Roman; for such was the prevalent 
hatred to Jesus that they called for his follow- 
ers, and would have taken them also had it been 
in their power. Five of the disciples, who have 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 341 


escaped arrest, are now in this house, whither 
John fled on eluding the grasp of the soldier. 
We are all sad and anxious. To move in favor 
of Jesus is only to share his fate, and do him no 
service; beside, I am pained to say, two or 
three of his disciples begin to doubt whether he 
is Messias, since, instead of establishing his 
promised kingdom, he is now a prisoner, and 
menaced with death. 

Yet, through all, dear father, I trust in him, 
and hope. I cannot doubt his truth and power. 
1 have seen him bring Lazarus from the grave, 
and I will not believe but that He can save him- 
self, and will save himself, from their hands. It 
is only when I shall behold him really no more 
—see him really dead, that my faith in his divine 
mission will waver. If he should be slain, then, 
alas! not only will perish forever all my hopes, 
and those of his trembling, weeping disciples, 
but the hopes of the restoration and glory of 
Judah; for verily we have believed that it is He 
which should have redeemed Israel! With eyes 
blinded with tears, I can scarcely subscribe 
myself, 

Your sad, but loving daughter, 
ADINA. 


342 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


LETTER XXX. 


My Dear Farser: I know not how to write 
—I know not what to say. Dismay and sorrow 
fill my heart. I feel as if life were a burden too 
heavy to bear. Disappointment and regrets are 
all that remain to me. He, in whom I trusted— 
He, whom thousands in Judah had begun to look 
upon as the hope of the nation—He who, as his 
now wretched disciples trusted, would have 
redeemed Israel—Jesus, has been delivered, this 
morning, by the Roman Procurator, to be con- 
demned to death, and they have crucified him! 
Tears of grief unutterable fall upon the parch- 
ment as I write, and, more eloquently than any 
words, tell you how I am smitten by this heavy, 
heavy blow! Jesus—the noble, mild, courteous, 
and wise Prophet, who taught with such grace 
and wisdom, and whom we believed to be sent 
from God to be the Savior of our people, and 
the Prince who should sit on the throne of David, 
to restore the former splendor of our nation—is © 
dead! With him have perished all our hopes! 
When he bowed his bleeding head on the cross, 
the necks of weeping Judah bent once more to 
the dust, to receive the yoke of Rome, from 
which they believed he would have delivered 
them. With him has been quenched the rising 
‘light of the sun of the Messias, who we hoped 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 343 


and believed that he was! But we hope no mor?) 
The daughters of Israel may now sit in the dust, 
and cover themselves with veils of woe; for he in 
whom they trusted is dead! Confounded and 
dismayed, his followers wander in the fields, or 
hide themselves from the multitude who seek 
their lives also. Alas! I cannot refrain from 
weeping bitter, bitter tears. How hath the 
Lord covered the daughters of Zion with a cloud 
in his anger, and cast down from Heaven unto 
earth the beauty of Israel. ‘‘All they that pass 
by,’’ as saith the Prophet, ‘‘will clap their hands 
at us, who trusted in him, and wag their heads 
at the daughters of Jerusalem: Is this the man 
—the mighty Prophet, whom men called the Son 
of the Highest, the Messias of God—the Prince 
of David—the excellency of wisdom and the joy 
of the earth? The punishment of thine iniquity 
is accomplished, O Daughter of Zion!’’ 

Thus dol weep, and thus do I complain; for 
verily fear and a snare is come upon us, desola- 
tion and destruction, O my father! We know not 
which way to turn! Hein whom we trusted has 
proved as one of us, weak and impotent, and 
has suffered death without power to save himself. 
He that saved others could not escape the death 
of the Roman cross! While I write, I hear the 
priest Abner, in the court below, mocking my 
uncle Amos in a loud voice: 

*““Your Messias is dead! A famous great 
prophet, surely, you Nazarenes have chosen— 
born in astable, and crucified asa thief! Said 
I not that he who could speak against the Temple 
and the priesthood was of the devil?’’ 


344 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


Rabbi Amos makes no reply. Shame and 
despair seal his lips. Thus our enemies triumph 
over us, and we answer only with confusion of 
face. Even the disciples are outlawed, and a 
reward offered by Caiaphas for their arrest; and 
all those who, two days ago, were so full of hope, 
and proud to sit at the feet of Jesus, and to fol- 
low him whithersoever he went, now fear to con- 
fess that they have ever known or seen him. It 
is only the high rank, asa priest, of my uncle 
Amos, which protects him or his household from 
arrest. 

But, my dear father, to whom I have ever con- 
fided all my feelings and thoughts, shall we pro- 
nounce Jesus an impostor! Oh, can he whose 
very countenance was stamped with celestial 
dignity, whose lips dispensed truths such as the 
wisest philosophers and holiest prophets have 
loved to study and teach; whose whole life has 
been blameless, and who has lived only to do good 
—can he be, must he be pronounced a deceiver? 
When I recall the sick he has cured, the indigent 
he has relieved, the mourners he has comforted, 
the ignorance be has enlightened, the dead he 
has up-raised, the sublime truths he has taught, 
his love of God, his respect for the worship of 
the Temple, the perfect morality of his daily life, 
the sincerity of all he said, and the universal 
sympathy which seemed to fill his bosom for all 
who were in sorrow—lI cannot, oh, I cannot bring 
my pen to write the word ‘‘impostor,’’ in asso- 
ciation with his name. But what shall I sub- 
stitute? Alas! Ifeel desolate and miserable, like 
those who, confiding all their heart’s treasures to 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 345 


another’s keeping, whom they believed good and 
true, find that he was unworthy of confidence 
and betrays their trust. Jesus asserted that he 
came on earth to establish a kingdom, and sit on 
the throne of David; and that all nations would 
receive their laws from Jerusalem. Where, 
now, is his power? Where, his throne? Where 
his laws? His power is ended in death! His 
throne is the Roman cross, placed between 
thieves, and the Roman laws, or rather power, 
which he was to destroy, have condemned himself 
to death! 

This unexpected, this unlooked-for, startling 
result has stupefied me! And not only me, but 
all who have been so led by fascination to 
trust in him. Even John. the beloved disciple, 
I hear now pacing the floor of the adjoining 
room, sobbing as if his noble heart would burst. 
Mary, my cousin’s sweet voice I catch, from 
time to time, trying to soothe him, although she 
is stricken, like us all, to the very earth; for she 
trusted in Jesus, if possible, with more faith 
than I did; and hence her dismay at his death, 
at the sudden termination of all her hopes in 
him, and of his restoration of Israel is in propor- 
tion. We have wept to-night in each other’s 
arms till we had no more tears to shed; and I 
have left her to pour out my griefs to you. The 
unhappy John despairingly answers her: 

‘Do not try to comfort me, Mary! There is 
no ground for hope more! He is dead—dead.~ 
dead! Allis lost! We who trusted in him have 
only to fly, if we would save our wretched lives, 
into Galilee, and return once more to our nets? 


346 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


The sun which shone so dazzlingly has proved a 
phantom light, and gone outin darkness. He 
whom I could not but love, I see that I loved too 
well, since he was not what I believed him to be. 
Oh, how could he be so like the Son of God, and 
yet not be. YetI loved him as if he were the 
very Son of the Highest! But I have seen him 
die like a man—lI have gazed on his lifeless body! 
Lhave beheld the deep wound made into his very 
heart by the Roman spear! I cast myself upon 
him, and implored him, by his love for me, to 
vive some sign that he was not holden by death! 
I placed my trembling hands over his heart. It 
was still, stz/7—-motionless as stone, like any 
other dead man’s! The flesh of his corpse was 
cold and clammy! He was dead—dead! With 
him die all our hopes—the hopes of Israel!’’ 

‘“‘He may live again,’’ said Mary softly and 
hesitatingly, as if she, herself, had no such hope. 
‘*He raised Lazarus, thou dost remember!”’ 

‘“Yes, for Jesus was living to do it!’’ answered 
John, stopping in his walk; ‘‘but how can the 
dead raise the dead! No, he will never move, 
speak, nor breathe again.’’ 

Thus, dear father, are we left to mourn with 
shame at our delusion, and with utterly wrecked 
hopes. I candidly acknowledge that Ihave been 
too hasty to confess’ Jesus as Messias of God; 
but, oh, what could I do but believe in one who 
seemed so like an angel from heaven—a celestial 
Prince. There is a dreadful and deep mystery 
initall. To the last we believed he would free 
himself, and escape death! For our sins God 
has suffered this great disappointment to come 
upon us all. Ea 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 347 


i try to seek some consolation in recalling all 
‘hat he was, good and holy; but this retrospect 
only darkens the cloud of the present; for I irre- 
gistibly argue: How could he, who was so good, 
prove so great a deceiver? J live and breathe, 
while he, who taught me that he had life in him- 
self, and who I believed could raise me from the 
dead, if I died, he is now dead and laid in the 
tomb; and yet I Live! He, over whom, we 
fondly believed, Death could have no power, 
since the doors of sepulchers opened at his voice, 
and let forth their reliving tenants, he has been 
conquered by death, and proved himself only the 
mortal son of Joseph, and the widowed Mary. 
She isinconsolable. Her distress is heart-rend- 
ing to witness. Notonly has she lost her only 
son, about whom all her maternal sympathies 
were entwined, as the vine encircles the loftv 
palm, but she is humiliated in the very ashes of 
shame, that he has died, leaving the thousands 
who trusted to his word, fugitives for his name’s 
sake, and disappointed in all they expected from 
him. Even nowLhear her heavy sighs, from the 
couch where she lies, broken-hearted, in my 
aunt’s chamber, to which John led her, after the 
execution of Jesus, at his request. She asks to 
be left alone, and I forget my own sorrows when 
I think upon hers, which are greater than she 
can bear; for, all at once, her son has been hurled 
from the position in which he drew all eyes up 
after him, and has died an ignominious death, 
leaving behind him the stigma of an impostor’s 
fame. This pierces her heart more keenly, than 
that she has been made childless. ‘‘Oh,’’ I 


348 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


heard her say to Rabbi Amos, when she came 
into the house, ‘‘oh, that he could have deceived 
me thus—he whom I believed to be the soul of 
truth. Alas! my son—my—son—better hadst 
thou remained in thy humble shop, leading a 
lowly and useful life, than, for the temporary 
popularity of a Prophet’s name, have held out 
hopes and promises to thy followers that thou 
couldst never realize, and meet with such a 
death! This has made my heart bleed indeed! 
My gray hairs will go down to the grave with 
shame that I am the mother of him who has de- 
ceived Israel. ’’ 

But I will not dwell on this universal sorrow— 
sorrow mingled with mortification—for the pride 
of all has been humbled to the dust. I will give 
you a description, dear father, of what occurred 
after the arrest; for I wish you to be acquainted 
with every particular respecting him, that you 
may see how perfectly he sustained the lofty char- 
acter which drew all men after him to the last 
—standing before his judges, like a man sublime 
in the consciousness of innocence, and command- 
ing even the involuntary respect and admiration 
of his foes. Oh, how could he have been a de- 
ceiver? Yet he is dead, and in that he is dead, 
he has failed in all the glorious things which he 
promised concerning himself. ‘‘His death,’’ 
says his disciple Peter, who was here to-night, 
to ask John what should now be done by them, 
‘‘his death is his infamy!’’ 

But I will not further delay the account of his 
trial and condemnation; for you will be earnest 
to know bow such a man could so fall as to be 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 349 


condemned to a malefactor’s death! In my last 
letter I spoke of his arrest—through the traitor- 
ous part enacted by Judas. Led by his captors, 
bound by the wrists with a cord, he was taken 
from the dark groves of Olivet, wherein he had 
been found at prayer, and conducted with great 
noise into the city by Cesar’s gate. It is near 
this archway that Rabbi Amos lives. It was the 
third hour of the night, and I had just gone to 
my room, which overlooked the street of David, 
when I was startled by the suddenly heard out- 
cries of fierce men, breaking the night’s stillness. 
Then I hear the quick challenges of the Roman 
sentinels, the galloping of several horsemen, and 
a confused tumult; the cries in the meanwhile 
increasing. But I will copy for you Mary’s ac- 
count of it to Martha, just written by her, in- 
stead of adding any more to my own. 

*‘T went out upon the basilica, which over- 
looked the street,’’ says Mary to her sister, in 
her letter, ‘‘and beheld a multitude advancing, 
with torches flashing; and soon they came oppo- 
site the house, at least two hundred men, half- 
clad and savage-looking, with flashing eyes and 
scowling looks. Here and there, among them, 
was a Levite urging them on, and I also beheld 
Abner, the priest, firing their passions by loud 
oratory and eager gesticulations. Behind rode 
five Roman horsemen, with leveled spears, 
guarding a young man, who walked in front of 
their horses’ heads. It was Jesus. His rich 
auburn locks were disheveled, his beard torn, 
his face marred, and his garments rent. He was 
pale and suffering, but walked with a firm step. 


350 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


I burst into tears, and so did Adina, who had 
come out to see what was passing. He looked 
up, and said touchingly, ‘Weep not for me 
‘ daughters of Jerusalem, but weep for yourselves. ”’ 
' He would have said more, but the priest 
smote him rudely upon the mouth; and the 
crowd, following his example, would have done 
him further insult but for the Roman soldiers, 
who turned their spears every way to guard him 
from violence; for they had rescued him from 
the terrible rage of the Jews, by their centurion’s 
orders, and were commanded to bring him safely 
before Pilate. So, thus guarded and escorted 
by the men who thirsted for his blood, he was 
led onward to the Pretorium, where the Roman 
Procurator resided. Gradually the whole mul- 
titude, horsemen, Jews, priests, torch-bearers, 
and captive, disappeared in the distance; and 
silence, a dread and unearthly silence, succeeded. 
I turned and looked in Adina’s face. She was 
leaning, colorless as marble, against one of the 
columns of the basilica. 

‘**What can all this mean?’ she said, with 
emotion. ‘Can it be possible He has suffered 
himself to be taken—-He who could destroy or 
make alive with a word? What means this 
dreadful scene we have just witnessed ?’ 

‘‘T could not answer. It was inexplicable, in- 
comprehensible tome. All I knew was what my 
eyes just beheld, that Jesus, our Prophet, our 
King, our Messias, on whom all our hopes and 
the joy of Israel rested, was dragged, a prisoner, 
through the streets, helpless and without a 
helper. I trembled with, I knew not what, un- 
known forebodings. Suddenly Adina cried: 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 351 


***He cannot be harmed! He cannotdie! He 
is a mighty Prophet, and has power that will 
strike his enemies dead! Let us not fear. He 
has yielded himself, only the more terribly tc 
defeat and destroy his foes. We will not fear 
what Pilate or the priests will do! They cannot 
harm the anointed Shiloh of the Lord!’ 

‘“While we were yet talking, dearest Martha, a 
dark figure passed stealthily along beneath the 
basilica, and seemed to court the shadows oi 
the house. Atthis moment my father, Rabbi 
Amos, opened the outer gate, with a torch in his 
hand, to follow, at our request, the crowd of 
people, and see what should befall Jesus. The 
light glared full upon the tall, spare form of 
Peter, the Galilee fisherman. His dark, stern 
features wore an expression of earnest anxiety. 
In his hand he carried a naked sword, on which 
were visible drops of blood. 

***Ts it thou, Peter!’ exclaimed my father. 
“What is this? Who has ordered the arrest of 
Jesus? What has he done?’ 

‘**That hateful and envious man, Caiaphas, 
seeks to destroy him, and has bribed, with large 
lures of gold, the baser Jews to do this thing. 
Come with me, Rabbi, and let us die with him!’ 
and the Galilean pressed eagerly forward ata 
pace with which my father could not keep up. 

‘‘And this was an hour ago, and yet no news 
has come from the Pretorium; but from time to 
time, a dreadful shout from the hill, on which 
the palace of Caiaphas stands, breaks upon my 
ears; and the glare of unseen torches illumines 
the atmosphere high above the towers of the 


352 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


palace. It is a fearful night of agony and sus- 
pense. Adinain her painful uncertainty, but for 
my entreaties, would go forth alone toward the 
Pretorium, to hear and know all. Ican keep 
myself calm only by writing to you. Adina has 
also commenced a letter to her father, recording 
these sad things, but she drops her pen, to start 
to the balcony at every sound. When will this 
fearful nightend! What will the morrow reveal! 
Adina is confident nothing can befall the holy 
Prophet, for he who could raise your brother 
Lazarus from the dead cannot fear death. Be- 
sides, has he not promised that he has come from 
God, to be king of Israel? If he enters the Pre- 
torium a bound captive to-night, it will be to sit 
upon the Roman throne within it to-morrow, with 
Pilate in chains at his feet! Iwrite this, to send 
to you by Elec at dawn, that you and Lazarus 
may hasten to come into the city to us. 

*‘Itis an hour since I wrote the last ine 
The interval has been one of agony. Rumors 
have reached us that the priests insist on Pilate’s 
passing sentence of death on the Prophet. The 
cries, ‘Crucify him! crucify him!’ have distinctly 
reached our ears. John is now here. About 
half an hour after Jesus passed he reached our 
house, nearly destitute of apparel, his clothing 
having been torn off from him by the Jews, in 
their efforts to make him prisoner also. He is 
calm and confiding, saying that his beloved Mas- 
ter can never be injured by them; and that he 
will, ere many hours, deliver himself from his 
foes, and proclaim himself king of Israel, with 
power such as man never had before! May the 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 300 


God of Jacob defend him! John has just gone 
up to the Temple to get news, in disguise of a 
priest, wearing my father’s robes. Itremble lest 
he be discovered, and taken; for the Jews are as 
bitter against the followers as against their 
Master. 


**T have just seen a messenger, passing in great 
haste along the street; and his horse falling, cast 
him almost upon our threshold. It was the page 
of Aimilius, the noble Roman knight who is be- 
trothed to my cousin Adina. She hastened to 
his aid. He was but stunned, and soon was able 
to say that he bore a message from Lucia 
Metella, the fair and youthful bride of Pilate, 
urging him to have nothing to do with the Pro- 
phet, but give him his liberty; for she had just 
awaked from an impressive dream, in which she 
saw him sitting on the Throne of the Universe, 
crowned with the stars of heaven, the earth the 
footstool beneath his feet, and all nations assem- 
bled, and doing him homage, while the gods and 
goddesses of high Olympus cast their glittering 
crowns and scepters at his feet, and hailed him 
God! 

‘‘Such was the account given by the page to 
Adina; and remounting his horse, he has con- 
tinued rapidly on his way toward the Pretorium. 
This report of the page has filled our hearts with 
joy and hope inexpressible. Confident that 
Jesus is the son of God, we will not fear what 
man can do unto him. 

**It is now three hours past midnight, and the 
dawn is chilly and cold, so that I cannot longer 


B54 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


hold my pen. I shall send this as soon as the 
city gates are opened. Come at once to our com- 
fort; for this is no time for the friends of Jesus 
to be out of Jerusalem. 

‘‘My father has returned. Itis day. He says 
nothing can save Jesus but his own divine power. 
The Jews are in number many thousands, and 
ery for his blood. Pilate has but a cohort of 
soldiers, and fears to use force, lest the exasper- 
ated people break into open revolt, and take the 
city from his hands, which they can do if they 
will unite. ‘He trembles,’ said my father, ‘be- 
tween fear to condemn the innocent, and fear of 
the vengeance of the Jews, if he let him go. 
Nothing can save the Prophet but his own mighty 
miracle-working power. He who has saved 
others will surely save himself.’ 

‘While my father was speaking, a man rushed 
into our presence. He was low in stature, broad 
chested, with a stiff, reddish beard, narrow eyes, 
and sharp, unpleasant visage. His attire was 
ragged and mean, as was his whole aspect. He 
grasped in his right hand a small bag, which 
rung like coin, as his shaking hand held it. He 
trembled all over, and seizing my father by the 
arm with the quick, nervous grasp of a lunatic, 
cried hoarsely : 

*<*Will he let them! will he! will he?’ 

“**Will he what, Judas? Of whom do you 
speak? Art thou crazed? Thou shouldst well 
be, after thy deed to-night.’ 

***Will he let them kill him? Will he die? 
will he die? Think you he will not escape? 
He can if he will! Cords, to him, are ropes of 
band!’ 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 300 


***No, no—he is bound hand and foot,’ an- 
swered my father sadly. ‘He makes no de- 
fense! Ifear he will let them do as they will 
with him. He makes no effort to save his life.’ 

‘‘At this Judas, for it was that wicked man, 
beat his knotted forehead, in a frenzied manner, 
with the bag of silver, and, with a look of horri- 
ble despair, rushing forth, he cried as he went: 

***T will save him! The priests shall have 
their money again. He shall not die! If I had 
believed he would not do some miracle to escape 
them, I never would have sold him. I hoped to 
get their money, and trusted, if they took him, 
for him to escape by his power. I did not 
dream that he would not exert it to save himself. 
I will save thee, innocent man of God, for I, not 
thou, alone am guilty! Oh, if I had suspected 
this—but he shall not die!’ 

‘*With these ravings he disappeared toward the 
Pretorium, leaving us all amazed at what we had 
heard. 

** *Ves,’ said my father, ‘I see it now. Judas 
hoped to secure the money and cheat the chief 
priests, trusting to his divine power to get away 
out of their hands. See the force of conscience! 
He is now beside himself with horror and re- 
morse; for he knows that he whom he has be- 
trayed is a man of God, without sin or guile!’ 


“The sunisup. The fate of Jesus is sealed! 
The Procurator has signed the sentence of death, 
and he is to be crucified to-day! But with 
Judas, I believe that he cannot die, and that he 
will signalize the hour by some wonderful miras 


356 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


cle of personal deliverance. Thus, tremblingly, 
we hope and wait.’’ 

Here terminates, my dear father, what my 
cousin has written to Martha and Lazarus, and, 
as it is very minute, please to receive it as if 
written by myself; for, during the night, I was 
too greatly unnerved to write with the compo- 
sure she had done. But now that all is over— 
now that Jesus lies dead in the tomb and forever 
at rest, I have been able to resume my pen. 

In my next I will give you an account of his 
trial, as it was related to me by my uncle Amos, 
and by John, one of whom was present to the 
last. This evening I am going to see the sepul- 
cher, where they have laid him; for, although he 
has in his death so sorely crushed all our hopes 
in him, and proved that he was not what he pro- 
fessed to be, yet my heart and affections hover 
about his memory, and irresistibly draw my foot- 
steps toward his last resting-place. Though we 
are deceived, I cannot hate his memory. Oh no! 
I cannot—I dare not trust myself to say all that 
I feel. I only wish I could forget him for ever- 
more, and regret that I have ever tried to con- 
vince you that he was the Shiloh of the Prophets. 
Yet never man spake like this man, my dear 
father! and if Shiloh in truth come, he can do 
no greater works than he has done. Inall things 
he was the Son of God but in his death! This 
event dashes all our hopes and our faith in him 
forever. 

Your sorrowing, bué# ‘oving daughter, 
ADINA. 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. mt Wg 


LETTER XXXII. 


Dearest Fatuer: I have only terminated my 
last letter to take up my pen for the beginning of 
another; for I find relief only in writing to you 
from the deep affliction which has struck me to 
the earth. If anything can add to my mortifica- 
tion at the death of the Nazarene Jesus, it is 
that I should have endeavored so earnestly to 
make you believe in him also. Forgive me, my 
dear father; your wisdom, your knowledge of the 
Prophets, your judgment, were far above my 
own. But who could have believed that he was 
less than he claimed to be—the very Son and 
Messias of God? Oh! I shall never have con- 
fidence in a human being again; and the more 
lovely, the more holy, the more heavenly the 
character of any one, the wiser and purer their 
teachings, the more distrustful shall I be of 
them. In the grave with Jesus is buried, hence- 
forth and forever, all trust in human virtue— 
even when accompanied by amazing miracles. I 
perceive that aman may teach divine truths, nay, 
wear upon his lineaments the very impress of 
an angel, may heal the sick by a touch, walk 
the sea, raise the dead, and cast out devils, and 
yet prove in the end a deceiver. Alasfor human 
truth! Alas for poor Israel! which has thus 
been blinded. They have beheld their idolized 


358 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


Shiloh nailed to a Gentile cross, without power 
in himself to prevent this ignominy. 

But I will turn from these painful thoughts, 
and, as | promised in my last, will give you an 
account of what passed at his trial, as you wiil 
be desirous of knowing on what accusation his 
condemnation was founded. 

It isnow the morning following his crucifixion, 
and I am calmer than I was yesterday, and will 
be able to write with more coherency. Twenty- 
four hours have passed since he was nailed to the 
eross. His followers have been since hunted 
like wild beasts of the wilderness. Annas has 
hired and filled with wine fierce Roman soldiers, 
and sent them everywhere to seize the fugitive 
Nazarenes. John was especially sought out, and 
the emissaries of Annas came at midnight last 
night to the house to take him; but we assisted 
him in making his escape by means of the sub- 
terraneous passage that leads from the dwelling 
of Rabbi Amos into the catacombs beneath the 
Temple. Mary of Nazareth, the mother of Jesus, 
accompanied him, and they got safely out of the 
city, and are now at Bethany with Martha— 
whence they will go to John’s new home, near 
Gennesaret. Even Lazarus, whom Jesus raised, 
has been made prisoner, but was released by the 
influence of Admilius, the Roman knight, who 
has conducted him hither, where he now is in 
safety; and Atmilius has also placed a guard 
about our house, for fear of further Jewish vio- 
lence. I therefore can write to you undisturbed. 
Aimilius is the only one who has any confidence 
left, since Jesus died, in his promises. He says 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 359 


that Jesus plainly foretold his death, and also 
that if he died, he would rise again! Peter, also, 
recollects Jesus’ saying this; but Uncle Amos has 
no confidence, and says: 

**It is easy for any man to foretell that he will 
die, and quite as easy for him to add that he 
will rise again! But let us see Jesus rise again, 
and we will believe in him indeed!’’ 

But Almilius, though only recently a convert 
from the Paganism of Rome, is firm in his faith 
that he will rise again to life; and, instead of 
giving up all, as we do, he says that he should 
not be amazed to be suddenly told by the 
soldiers whom he left to guard his tomb that 
he had burst forth alive from the dead! The con- 
fidence of Aumilius has almost inspired me with 
hope again! But, dear father, I saw his cleaved 
side, the torrent of blood and water flow forth 
from the horrid wound, and saw his lifeless head 
hang down upon his breast. If he had not been 
pierced through, I might have hoped that he 
could yet revive! But that he was pierced, re- 
moves all hope that he can be restored. He did 
not swoon, and thus appear like one dead, or 
we might trust to his restoration; but he was 
slain, and I saw him lie a mangled corpse at 
the foot of the cross, bleeding from five wounds, 
one of which was through and through his heart. 
I should rejoice to have the faith of dear Aimil- 
lius; but I tell him that I have hitherto believed 
too well, and that when Jesus expired, all faith 
in my bosom expired with him. 

But I have forgotten that Iam to narrate to 
you, dear father, the particulars of his accusa- 


360 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


tion, trial, and condemnation. As Iwas not pres- 
ent at the Pretorium, I am indebted for the 
details which I shall give in part to John, and 
in part to Rabbi Amos, who were both there a 
portion of the night; Peter, and other disciples, 
as well as Atmilius, have given me additional 
facts. 

As soon as the mob of Jews, who had Jesus 
under arrest, and which I saw pass the house, 
reached the house of Rabbi Annas, he, from his 
‘window, asked them whom they had in custody, 
and when they answered that it was the Naza- 
rene Prophet, he said, with great joy: 

‘‘Bring him into the lower court, that I may 
see him. By the rod of Aaron! I would have 
him do some notable miracle for me.”’ 

And thus speaking, the white-headed old man 
hastened to the court, which, on reaching, he 
found thronged with the infuriated multitude, 
mingled with the Roman soldiers. It was with 
difficulty he made a passage to where Jesus 
stood, both imprisoned and defended by a 
glittering lattice of Roman spears. After re- 
garding him attentively he said with curiosity, 
yet with sarcasm : 

‘‘Art thou, then, the King of the Jews? Hast 
thou come to reign on the throne of David? 
Show me a sign from heaven, and I will acknowl- 
edge thee, O Nazarene!’’ 

But Jesus stood calm and dignified, making 
no answer. Annas then angrily plucked him by 
the beard, and a messenger at the same moment 
arrived to say that Caiaphas, the High Priest, 
who had married the beautiful and haughty 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 861 


Miriam, the daughter of Annas, demanded to 
have Jesus brought before him. Upon this he 
said, in a loud voice: 

‘Lead him to the Palace! Caiaphas, my son- 
in-law, would see the man who would destroy the 
Temple, and rebuild it in three days.”’ 

There now arose a dreadful shout from the 
priests and people, who, rushing upon Jesus, at- 
tempted to grasp his person; and in protecting 
him, as they had been commanded to do, the 
Romans wounded several of the Jews. Hereupon 
there was a great cry oi: 

‘“Down with the Roman eagies! Down with 
the barbarians! Death to the Gentiles!’’ 

These cries were followed up by a fearful rush 
of the mass of men upon the handful of guards. 
They were forced back, their spears broken like 
straws or turned aside, and Jesus successfully 
wrested from their power. But in the height of 
the battle, AZmilius, who had heard the tumult 
from the castle, appeared with a portion of the 
legion of which he was Prefect, and instantly 
charging the people, who fled before the breasts 
of his horses, rescued the Prophet, but not with- 
out the sacrifice of the lives of three of the fore- 
most. 

**Rabbi,’’ said Aimilius to the Prophet, with 
compassionate respect, ‘‘I know thou hast power 
from God to disperse as chaff tais rabble of 
fiends! Speak, and let them perish at thy divine 
command!’’ 

‘‘Nay, my son! Iam come into the world for 
this hour,’’ answered Jesus. ‘‘This, also, is a 
part of my mission from my Father. It becomes ° 
me to endure all things, even death.’’ 


362 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


“You cannot die, my Lord!’’ said Admilius 
warmly. ‘‘Did I not see thee raise Lazarus from 
the tomb ?’’ 

‘To die I came into this world; but not for 
myself. I lay down my life, andI can take it 
again. These men could have no power over me, 
except my Father did grantitto them: and what 
my Father doth, Ido also. Seek not, my son, 
to deliver me. This day was seen by Hsaias, 
who wrote of me. I must fulfill the Prophets. 
There remains only that I be delivered to judg- 
ment and to death!”’ 

These words passed between them beneath the 
portico, as Aimilius was loosing the sharp cords 
from the bleeding wrists of the youthful Prophet. 

‘‘To Caiaphas! to Caiap as!’’ now cried the 
multitude, who had been for a moment awed bv 
the bold charge of the Roman horse, but now 
crew bolder, as some men removed the dead and 
wounded out of sight. ‘‘To the Palace with the 
blasphemer! for he who calls himself God is. by 
our law, to be punished with death. To the 
High Priest with him!’’ 

‘“‘T can rescue you, Great Prophet!” said 
7&milius resolutely. ‘‘Give me the word. and 
you are mounted cn my horse, and safe in the 
castle of David.’’ 

‘‘The High Priest has sent forme. He must 
be obeyed,’’ answered Jesus; and A/milius. sur- 
prised at his refusal to escape, reluctantly es- 
corted him to the palace. The windows already 
glared with torches; and the superb Hal) of 
Aaron within the Palace was alight with a bun- 
dred flambeaux. The Romans entered, guarding 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 363 


their prisoner, and followed by a tumultuous 
throng, which each moment fearfully increased 
in numbers. Caiaphas was already upon his 
throne, although it was the hour of midnight, 
an unwonted time for him to sit in the council- 
chamber; but his desire to have Jesus brought 
before him, of whose arrest in Olivet he had been 
an hour before apprised by one of his emissa- 
ries, led him to hold an extraordinary court. A 
score of the elders and chief priests were stand- 
ing about him, their dark, eager faces earnestly 
watching the entrance, to get a look at the ap- 
proaching Prophet. Among the most eager of 
all these was Caiaphas himself, who regarded the 
eloquent Nazarene as his rival in the eyes of the 
whole people, and had, therefore, long thirsted 
for his destruction. As Jesus serenely entered, 
led by the sorrowful Aimilius, Caiaphas bent his 
tall, gaunt form forward, thrust his neck and 
huge black head in advance, and with keen eyes, 
and sharp, scrutinizing glances, surveyed his 
youthful rival. 

The multitude, pressing in, soon filled all the 
vast hall, and even crowded upon the rostrum, 
upon which were seated the scribes, elders, and 
many of the principal priests. The Roman 
soldiers, with clanging steel, marched in, and 
arrayed themselves on either side of the High 
Priest’s throne, leaving Jesus standing alone 
before its footstool. The scene must have been 
striking, and full of painful interest, to the most 
unconcerned present. The arched ceiling of the 
chamber, supported by seventy columns of 
porphyry, represented the deep blue heavens, 


364 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


studded with glittering constellations in starry 
gold. The walls were of jasper, superbly col- 
ored, with precious stones inlaid, representing 
every variety of fruit and flower, in all their 
native tints and varied forms of grace and 
beauty. The hundred flambeaux, reflected a 
thousand times from the polished surfaces of the 
columns, shed a magnificent light over all. The 
gorgeous robes of the High Priest, his dazzling 
tiara and priceless breastplate, refracted the 
radiant beams with indescribable prismatic 
splendor. The steel spearheads and polished 
cuirasses of the Roman guard, catching the light 
upon points and bosses, gleamed like flames of 
fire; while the silver crest of the helmet of 
A®milius shone among all this glory like a lesser 
sun. Contrasting this brilliancy, surged, and 
heaved, and moved below the dark masses of the 
poeple, in their gray and brown caps and cloaks, 
for the night was cold, and they wore their 
winter garments; and all. this dark ocean of 
human forms gleamed with ten thousand eyes, 
flashing like the phosphorescent stars that glit- 
ter on the surface of the upheaving sea, when 
the shadow of the storm-cloud hangs above it, 
and the winds are about to be unbound, to lash 
it into fury. So seemed this terrible sea of 
human heads—Jesus, the center of their looks 
and of their hate, the Pharos at whose feet these 
foaming biilows of passion broke with terrific 
power. He alone, of all that countless host, he 
alone was calm—serene—fearless! Caiaphas 
gazed upon him, as he stood before his foot- 
stool, betraying admiration mingled with resent- 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 363 


ment. The scribes and priests also gazed and 
talked together, with looks of unusual interest. 
Caiaphas now waved his hand, with a gesture for 
silence, and addressed Jesus: 

**So, then,’’? he said, with haughty irony, 
**thou art Jesus, the far-famed Galilean Prophet! 
’ Men say thou canst raise the dead. We would 
fain see a miracle. Thinkest thouif we put thee 
to death presently, thou canst raise thyself >?’’ 

** * Jesus,’ said Rabbi Amos, who just entered, 
and stood near, and saw all, ‘Jesus remained 
unmoved. His bearing was marked by a certain 
divine dignity, and an expression of holy resig- 
nation sat upon his features. He looked like 
Peace incarnate in the form of man! A soft 
influence seemed to flow from his presence, and 
produce a universal, but momentary emotion of 
sympathy. Caiaphas perceived it, and cried, in 
his harsh, stern voice: 

***You have brought this man before me, men 
of Jerusalem! Of what do ye accuse him?’ 

***He is a malefactor, or we would not have 
brought him,’ responded a fierce voice, from the 
multitude. 

***Let those who have accusations come for- 
ward and make them. . He is a Jew, and shall 
have justice by our laws.’ 

***Ye Jews have no power to try a man for 
his life, most noble Caiaphas!’ said Admilius. 
‘The lives of all your nation are in the hand of 
Cesar, and of his tribunals. You can put no 
man to death!’ 

‘This said Almilius, in hopes that if Jesus 
could be brought before Pilate, the Roman Pro-. 


366 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


curator, he might be by him released, for he 
knew Pilate had no envy or feeling against the 
Prophet. 

“<<Thou sayest well, noble Roman,’ answered 
Caiaphas; ‘but for crimes of blasphemy against 
the Temple, we are permitted by Cesar to judge 
our people by the laws of Moses. And this man, 
if rumor comes nigh the truth, has been guilty 
of blasphemy. But we will hear the witnesses.’ 

‘‘Hereupon several of the chief-priests and 
scribes, who had been going in and out among 
the crowd, brought forward certain men, whose 
very aspect showed them to be of the baser sort. 
One of these men testified that he had heard 
Jesus say that he would destroy the Temple, 
and could again in three days rebuild it more 
magnificently than it was in the days of Solomon 
the Mighty. 

‘‘Upon this testimony all the priests shouted, 
‘Blasphemer!’ and ealled for him to be stoned to 
death; and the passionate Abijah, the most viru- 
lent of the scribes, cast his iron ink horn vio- 
lently at him, but one of the soldiers turned it 
aside with his lance; at which there was a deep 
murmur against the Romans, which Caiaphas 
with difficulty silenced. 

‘““A second witness was now produced by 
Abijah, who testified that Jesus had taught in 
Samaria that men would soon no longer worship 
in the Temple, but that the whole earth would 
be the temple for Jews and Gentiles. 

‘‘This was no sooner heard than some of the 
men gnashed at Jesus with their teeth, and but 
for the gestures and loud voice of the High 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 367 


Priest, they would have made an attempt to get 
him into their power. The noise of their rage 
is described as having been like the roaring of 
all the wild beasts of the wilderness, rushing to 
the banquet of a fresh battlefield. 

‘*A third witness, a man who had been notori- 
ous for his crimes, now came up. Hecarried on 
his wrist a cock, with steel gaffs upon the spurs, 
as if just brought up from the cockpit to bear 
testimony ; for such were the sort of fellows sub- 
orned by the priests. He testified that Jesus 
said that the day would soon come when not 
one stone should be left upon another of the 
Temple; that he had called it ‘a den of thieves,’ 
and the priests ‘blind guides’ and deceivers; the 
scribes ‘foxes;’ and the Pharisees ‘hypocrites!’ 

**But the fourth and fifth witnesses contra- 
dicted each other; neither did the testimony of 
two others agree; one, who asserted that he 
heard him call himself ‘the Son of God,’ was 
contradicted by others, who asserted that it was 
only ‘the Son of Man;’ and, in another instance, 
one said he heard him say that he and God 
were One, while the other testified that what he 
said was that God was greater than he. Neither 
did other witnesses agree together. 

‘Such opposite testimony perplexed and irri- 
tated Caiaphas, and confounded the chief priests 
and scribes. The High Priest now began to 
perceive that Jesus would have to be released 
for want of testimony against him. All the while 
the prisoner had remained standing before him 
bound, with his hands tied across his body, his 
countenance mild, but heroic—‘the firmness and 


368 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


composure of innocence,’ as Aumilius described 
his bearing to be. 

‘**What! Galilean and blasphemer of God and 
His Temple! answerest thou nothing?’ cried the 
High Priest; ‘hearest thou not what these 
witness against thee!’ 

‘“‘But Jesus remained silent. Caiaphas was 
about to break the silence by some fierce words, 
when a voice was overheard the other side of the 
columns, on the left of the throne, where was a 
fireplace, in which was burning a large fire, 
about which stood many persons. Rabbi Amos 
at once recognized, in the violent speaker, Peter, 
who had come in with him and John; the latter 
of whom, in the disguise of a priest, stood not 
far from Jesus, gazing tenderly upon him, and 
listening, with the most painful interest to all 
that they testified against him: but Peter stood 
further off, by the fire, yet not less eagerly at- 
tending to all that passed. 

‘**Thou art one of the Nazarene’s followers!’ 
cried the voice of a maid, who brought wood to 
feed the fire. ‘Thou needest not to deny it. I 
am of Galilee, and knew thee when thou wert a 
fisherman. Seize him, for he is one of them.’ 

** “Woman, I swear by the altar and ark of God, 
and by the sacred Tables, I know not the fellow! 
I never saw Galilee!’ 

‘**Thy speech betrayeth thee, now thou hast 
spoken!’ cried the woman; ‘thou art a Galilean, 
and thy name is Simon Bar Jona. I know thee 
well; and how, three years ago, you and your 
brother Andrew left your nets to follow this 
Nazarene’ 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 369 


** “May the thunders of Horeb and the curse of 
Jehovah follow me, if what thou sayest be true, 
woman. Thou mistakest me for some other man. 
I swear to you, by the head of my father, men 
and brethren, that I never saw his face before!’ 

**As he spoke,’’ said John, ‘‘he cast his angry 
looks toward the place where Jesus stood. He 
caught his Master’s eyes bent upon him with a 
tender and reproving gaze, so full of sorrowing 
compassion, mingled with forgiveness, that I saw 
Peter stand, as if smitten with lightning. He 
then pressed his two hands to his face, and utter- 
ing a cry of anguish and despair that made the 
High Priest start, and which went to every 
heart, he rushed out by the open door into the 
darkness and disappeared. As he did so, the 
cock, which was held tied upon the wrist of the 
third witness, crowed twice in so loud a tone 
that it caused some persons in the gross crowd to 
burst into laughter, and to imitate him, greatly 
to the annoyance of Caiaphas, who for some time 
could not still the confusion. Ithen remembered 
the words of Jesus to Peter, spoken but twelve 
hours before: ‘This night, even before the cock 
crow the first watch of the morning, thou shalt 
thrice deny that thou knowest me!’ Upon this, ”’ 
added John, ‘‘my confidence in my Master came 
back, full and strong, and I felt that he would 
not, could not, be harmed; for that he foreknew 
all things that could happen to him, and would 
escape danger of death. 

**At length, when order was restored, so that 
Caiaphas could be heard, he again addressed 
Jesus, saying, but with more respect than before: 


370 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


** ¢Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? 
I adjure thee, by the living God, tell us plainly!’ 

‘‘Jesus then elevated his princely form, and 
bending his eyes upon the face of the High 
Priest, with a look so brightly celestial that 
Caiaphas involuntarily dropped his eyelids to the 
ground, answered and said: 

‘* “Tf I tell you, O Caiaphas, ye will not believe! 
If I then acknowledge me, nor let me go free! 


I have spoken openly to the world, in the Temple , 


and in the synagogue. ~I have concealed 
nothing. Ask them which heard me, what I have 
said. Nevertheless, I say unto you what I have 
before taught, that Iam the Christ, the Son of 
the Blessed; and hereafter ye shall behold me 
sitting on the right hand of the power of God, 
and coming in the clouds of heaven.’ 

** “Art thou the Son of God?’ cried several of 
the priests at once, while Caiaphas held up his 
hands in horror. 

** “Ve have said tHat which I am,’ answered the 
Prophet, without changing, except to a sublimer 
look, the expression of his countenance, which,’’ 
says John, ‘“‘seemed to shine, as he had seen it 
in the Mount, when he was transfigured before 
him. 

“* ‘Men of Israel and Judah, ye hear his words!’ 
cried the High Priest, rending down the blue 
lace from his ephod. ‘Hear ye his blasphemy?’ 

** «Said I not, son of Aaron, that you would 
neither believe me nor let me go, if I told you 
who Iam?’ said Jesus firmly. ‘I tell you the 
truth, and ye call it blasphemy!’ 

“* “Answerest thou the High Priest so!’ cried 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. ons 


Abner furiously, ‘the chief officer of the 
Temple!’ striking him with the palm of his hand 
across the mouth. 

*‘Jesus calmly answered, with the blood trick- 
ling from his lips: ‘If I have spoken evil, bear 
witness of the evil, and judge me by our law; 
but if well, why smitest thou me?’ 

“* “Ve have heard the blasphemy,’ said Caiaphas, 
extending his hands toward the people. ‘What 
think ye? Need we any further witness than his 
own mouth?’ 

** “He is guilty of death!’ cried Abner, in a 
hoarse voice, his eyes, red with being up all the 
night, glaring like a leopard’s; and advancing to 
where Jesus stood, bound and bleeding, he spat 
in his face thrice. 

*‘This was followed by a loud outcry for his 
death; and several vile fellows also spat upon 
him, and pulled him by the beard, and for some 
minutes if seemed to be the only thought of all, 
who were any ways near him, to do him some 
ignominy; and, but for the protection of A)mil- 
ius and his soldiers, they would have torn him 
in pieces. 

*“*TIs this Jewish justice?’ cried Amilius 
indignantly, to Caiaphas. ‘Do you condemn and 
killa man without witness? Stand back, hounds, 
for Romans are not used to see men condemned 
without law. Back, fellows—or your blood shall 
flow sooner than his for which you thirst!’ 

**At this determined attitude they gave back 
for a moment, and left Jesus standing in the 
midst, sad but serene. 

‘John ran to him, and wiped the blood and 


S72 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


uncleanness from his lips, and cheeks, and beard, 
and gave him water, which the woman who had 
recognized Peter compassionately brought in a 
ewer. 

‘**Master, use thy power, and escape from 
them!’ whispered John. 

‘* “Nay—tempt me not, beloved,’ he answered. 
‘My power is not for my deliverance, but for 
that of the world. For you I can do mighty 
works; but for myself Ido nothing. I came not 
to save my life, but to lay it down! Mine hour 
is at hand!’ 

** “Get not a handful of Romans frighten you, 
men of Jerusalem!’ cried Abner. ‘There is nota 
legion in all the city. Here we are masters, if 
we will it! To the rescue! Let me hear the 
Lion of Judah roar in his might, and the Eagle 
of Rome will shrink and fly away. ‘To the 
rescue!’ 

***Hold! men and brethren!’ cried Caiaphas, 
who had judgment enough to see that the first 
blow would be the beginning of a revolution 
that would bring down upon the city the Roman 
army quartered in Syria, and end in the destruc- 
tion of the nation. ‘Hold, madmen!’ 

‘But his voice was drowned amid the roar of 
the human tempest. Atmilius and his men were 
borne away on the crest of the surge, and so 
pressed by the bodies of the Jews that they could 
not make use of their weapons. In the wild 
confusion Jesus was carried by fierce hands to 
the opposite end of the council-chamber; while 
Caiaphas strove to appease the wrath of Atmilius, 
who insisted that the fate of Jesus should be left 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 373 


with Pilate, the Procurator. After brief con- 
sultation with the chief priests, elders, and 
scribes, Caiaphas consented; though knowing 
that Pilate, being a Pagan, would not heed a 
charge of blasphemy, he resolved with the rest, 
that nothing should be said of that before him, 
but that he should be accused to him of sedition, 
and setting up a kingdom in opposition to the 
universal empire of Cesar. 

“When Atimilius, aided by the authority of 
Caiaphas, at length came where Jesus had been 
dragged, they found him standing blindfolded 
among a crowd of the basest fellows of Jerusalem, 
who were amusing themselves by slapping his 
cheeks, and asking him to tell, by his divine 
knowledge of all things, who didit? They would 
also hold money before kis blinded eyes, and ask 
him to name its value or inscription; and when 
he still kept silence, they struck him, beat him 


with their hands, and cruelly smote him with . 


their staves to make him respond. 

** “We will let thee go, Nazarene,’ said one, ‘if 
thou wilt tell how many hairs I have in my 
beard!’ 

** “Nay, let him divine!’ cried another, ‘what 
I gave for my Passover-lamb, in the market, and 
the name of the Samaritan of whomI bought it!’ 

***Out with your lambs, Kish!’ shouted a 
third fellow, thrusting himself forward; ‘let me 
hear him prophesy! It is a rare quail, a proph- 
et, in these dull times. What, Galilean, 
silent and sullen! I will make thee speak, and 
sing, too!’ and he let a blow of his staff fall upon 
the head of Jesus, which would have felled him 


374: PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


to the earth, but for the voice of Caiaphas, which 
arrested, in part, its force. 

***Men of Israel!’ he cried aloud, ‘that this 
pestilent Nazarene is a blasphemer, we have 
heard with our ears; and, by our law, he ought 
to die, because he hath made himself the Son of 
God! But Cesar hath taken the power of life 
and death out of our hands! We can put neo 
man to death, but the Romans only. That he 
has spoken against Cesar, and is a seditionist, 
can be proved. Let us take him before Pilate 
with this accusation; and if he be found guilty 
of death, as he will be, unless the Procurator 
wink at a usurper’s rising up in his government, 
which he will not dare to do, we shall have the 
Nazarene hanged on a Roman cross, ere the sun 
reaches the mark of noonon the dial of the 
Temple.’ 

‘This speech pleased the people, and having 
rebound Jesus more securely, they cried, all 
with one voice: ‘To Pilate! To the Pretorium!’ ’’ 

The multitude then poured out of the gates of 
the palace, like a foaming and chafing river 
which hath overflowed its banks, and with terrible 
cries which we heard, startling the dawn, even 
in our house, took the direction toward the Pre- 
torium. Of the hundreds of thousands of Jews 
from the country, who crowd Jerusalem like a 
beehive at this holy season, not one slept that 
night, or was absent from that scene; and the 
noise of the tramp of that multitude shook the 
very foundations of Mount Zion, while the mur- 
mur of voices was like the sound of many waters. 

It was with difficulty that Aumilius could pro- 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 3875 


tect the Prophet in safety up the hill, and to the 
entrance of the Pretorium, while he entered with 
his prisoner, just as the sun gilded the loftiest 
pinnacle of the Temple, and the trumpets of the 
Levites sounded to prayers. 

In another letter, dear father, I will continue 
the account of his trial, the remembrance of 
which, while I now write of it, almost rekindles 
again all my love, faith, devotion and confidence 
in him; for who but a man, God-sustained, could 
have borne so meekly all this pain, insult, 
ignominy, and shame? 

ApINa. 


376 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


LETTER XXXII. 


My Dear Fatruer: This is the evening of the 
Great Day of the Feast, and the second day 
since the ignominious execution of him whom we 
all believed to have been a Prophet sent from 
God—nay, more than a prophet, Christ, the Son 
of the Blessed! Yet he still lies dead in the 
tomb, and his splendid prophecies of his future 
glory, as King of Israel, have perished with him. 
Alas! that one so good and noble and wise 
should have been a deceiver! Henceforth I have 
no faith in goodness. I have wept till I can 
weep no more. 

Iwill now resume my narrative of his trial; 
for I would, ‘by showing you how like a true 
prophet he bore himself, even before his judges, 
in some degree excuse myself to you, for being 
carried away by him, and accepting him for all 
that he professed to be—the very Messias of 
Jehovah. 

It is now the close of the High Day of the 
Feast. The slanting rays of the setting sun 
linger yet upon the gilded lances that terminate 
the hundred lesser pinnacles of the Holy House 
of the Lord. The smoke of incense curls lazily 
up the sky from its unseen altar, and the deep 
voices of the choir of Levites, increased by those 
of the tens of thousands of Judah who crowd all 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 377 


the courts of the Temple, fall upon my ears like 
muffled thunder. I never heard anything so 
solemn. Above the Temple has hung, since the 
crucifixion yesterday, the cloud of the smoke of 
the sacrifices, and it immovably depends over all 
the city like a pall. The sun does not penetrate 
it, though its light falls upon the earth outside 
of the city; butall Jerusalem remains in shadow; 
and, shooting over the cloud, the setting sun- 
beams, catching the loftly pinnacles, make the 
gloom beneath only seemthe more somber. The 
cloud is a fearful sight, and all men have been 
watching it, and talking of it, and wondering. 
It seems to be in the form ofa pair of black 
gigantic wings, spreading a league broad over 
Jerusalem. 

There it hangs, visible from my window; but 
We are in some sort used to its dreadful pres- 
ence, and cease to fear; but we are lost in won- 
der! This morning, when a high wind arose, 
blowing from the great sea eastward, every one 
expected and hoped to see the cloud sail away 
before it in the direction of the desert. But the 
only effect the wind produced was to agitate its 
whole surface in tumultuous billows, while the 
mass still retained its position over the city. 
The shadow it casts is supernatural and fearful, 
like the dread obscurity which marks an eclipse 
of the sun. 

And this reminds me, my dear father, to men- 
tion what, in the multiplicity of subjects that 
rush to my pen for expression, I have omitted to 
state to you; and what is unaccountable, unless 
men have, in very truth, crucified, in Jesus, the 


378 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


very Son of God. At the time of his death, the 
sun disappeared from the midheavens, and dark- 
ness, like that of night, followed over all the 
earth, so that the stars became visible; and the 
hills on which Jerusalem stands shook as if an 
earthquake had moved them, and many houses 
were thrown down; and where the dead are 
buried, outside of the city, the earth and rocks 
were rent; tombs broken up, and the bodies of 
the dead were heaved to the surface, and exposed. 
to all eyes; and some arose, and went alive into 
the city, where many saw them, and on all sides 
shrank away from them in terror. Others of the 
dead bodies have lain all to-day, for the Jews 
dare not touch them to rebury them, for fear of 
being defiled. All this is fearful and unaccount- 
able. What will be the end of these things is 
known only to the God of Abraham. Never was 
so fearful a Passover before. Men’s faces are 
pale, and all look as if some dread calamity had 
befallen the nation. Can the death of Jesus be 
the cause of ali these things? If so, he was the 
Son of God, and men have done unto him what- 
soever they listed. If he be the Blessed Christ, 
whom Caiaphas and the priests have had cruci- 
fied, the retribution of God’s vengeance upon 
our city and nation is but just begun. Butif he 
were the Christ, why did he not save himself? 

My last letter, my dear father, closed with the 
termination of the examination of Jesus before 
Caiaphas, the High Priest, who, not being able 
to convict him of anything save alleged blas- 
phemy, and not having the power in his hands 
to condemn him to death on this charge, re- 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 379 


solved, in order unfailingly to secure his execu- 
tion, to charge him before Pilate, the Procura- 
tor, of sedition and treason against Cesar. But 
for the fact that the Romans had taken the 
power of death from the Jewish nation, Jesus 
would have been then stoned to death for blas- 
phemy by order of Caiaphas; but a more 
ignominious death, asa revolutionist and usurper 
of Ceesar’s crown, was in reserve for him, at the 
hands of the Roman law. 

Guarded by Atmilius, who was his true friend 
to the last, and followed by the envious Caia- 
phas, the fierce Abner, the captains of the Tem- 
ple, Scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, 
and a mixed rabble of the Jews, artisans, peas- 
ants, robbers, beggars, and all the off-scourings 
of the nation that pour into the city at the Pass- 
over season, he was led to the house of Pilate. 

The Pretorian gates were shut by the Roman 
guards as the tumultuous crowd advanced, for 
Pilate believed the Jews were in insurrection, 
and was prepared to defend his palace; for so 
few are the troops with him in the city that he 
has for some weeks held only the name of power, 
rather than the reality. But when A‘milius ex- 
plained to the captain of the guard that the 
Jews desired to accuse Jesus the Nazarene of 
sedition before the Procurator, he was admitted, 
with the chief men of the city, into the outer 
court of Antiochus; but none passed beyond the 
statue of Cesar, lest they should defile them- 
selves; and, at their call, Pilate came forth to 
them. When hesaw the vast concourse of people 
with Caiaphas and the chief priests, and many 


380 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


rich Sadducees, and the leading men of Jeru- 
salem in the advance, and Jesus bound, and dis- 
figured by the insults he had undergone, and 
/Emilius and his few soldiers inclosing him with 
their protecting spears, and heard the loud 
voices of the multitude, as of wolves baying for 
the blood of a defenseless lamb, he stood with 
amazement for a few moments, surveying the 
scene. 

‘““What means this, Almilius?’’ he demanded 
of the young Prefect. ‘‘Who is this captive?’’ 

*“It is Jesus, called the Christ, my lord; the 
Prophet of Galilee. The Jews desire his death, 
accusing him of blaspheming their God; 
and———”’ 

‘But I have no concern with their religion, or 
the worship of their God. Let them judge him 
after their own way,’’ said Pilate indifferently, 
and with an indolent air. 

‘But most noble Roman,’’ said Caiaphas, ad- 
vancing to the portico on which the Procurator 
stood, ‘‘by our law he should suffer death; and 
thou knowest though we can condemn, as we 
now have done, this Galilean, we have no power 
to execute sentence of death!’’ 

‘“This is well said; but would you have me put 
one of your nation to death for blaspheming your 
God? So faras that is concerned, O priest,’’ 
added Pilate, smiling contemptuously, ‘‘we 
Romans blaspheme him daily; for we worship 
him not, and will have naught to do with your 
faith. Let the man go! Isee no cause of death 
in him!’’ 

He then spoke to Aimilius, and desired him to 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 381 


lead Jesus to the spot where he stood. Pilate 
then regarded him with mingled pity and inter- 
est. After surveying him a moment, he turned 
to one of his officers, and said aside: ‘‘A form 
divine, and fit for Apollo, or any of the greater 
gods! His bearing is hike ahero! Mehercule! 
The chisel of Praxiteles, nor of Phidias, ne’er 
traced the outlines of limbs and neck like these. 
He is the very incarnation of human symmetry 
and dignity.’’ 

The courtiers nodded assent to these cool crit- 
icisms of the indolent and voluptuous Italian. 
Jesus, in the meanwhile, stood motionless before 
his judge, his eyes downeast, and full of a holy 
sadness, and his lips compressed with immovable 
patience. Pilate now turned to him, and said: 

‘Thou art, then, that Jesus of whom men talk 
so widely. I have had curiosity to see thee; and 
thanks, Caiaphas, to thee, for this privilege. 
Men say, O Jesus, that thou art wiser than ordi- 
nary men; that thou canst do works of necro- 
mancy, and art skilled in the subtle mysteries of 
astrology. I would question thee upon these 
things. Wilt thou read my destiny for me in 
the stars? Ifthou answerest well, I will befriend 
thee, and deliver thee from thy countrymen, who 
seem to howl for thy blood.’’ 

‘My lord!’’ cried Caiaphas furiously, ‘‘thou 
must not let this man go! He is a deceiver, and 
traitor to Cesar. I charge him and formally 
accuse him, before thy tribunal, of making him- 
self king of Judea!”’ 

To this the whole multitude assented, in one 
deep voice of rage and fierce denunciation that 
shook the very walls of the Pretorium. 


382 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


‘*What sayest thou!’’ demanded Pilate; ‘‘art 
thou a king? Methinks if thou wert such, these 
Jews have little need to fear thee.’’ And the 
Roman cast a careless glance over the mean and 
torn apparel, and half-naked limbs of the 
Prophet. 

Before Jesus could reply, which he seemed 
about to do, for his lips parted as if to speak, 
there was heard asudden commotion in the lower 
part of the court of Gabbatha (for thus the outer 
court of the Pretorium, where they were, is 
called by the Jews), and a loud, hoarse voice 
was heard crying: ‘‘Make way—give back! He 
is innocent. ’”’ 

All eyes turned in the direction of the arch- 
- way, when a man was seen forcing his path 
toward the door of the Judgment Hall, in front 
of which Pilate was standing, with Jesus a step 
or two below him. 

‘“What means this madman!’’ cried the Pro- 
curator. ‘‘Some of you arrest him!’’ 

‘“‘Tam not mad—he is innocent! I have be- 
trayed the innocent blood!’’ cried Iscariot, for it 
was he, leaping into the space in front of the 
portico. ‘‘Caiaphas, I have sought thee every- 
where!’’ he exclaimed, on seeing the High 
Priest. ‘Take back thy money, and let this 
holy Prophet of God go free! I swear to you he 
is innocent; and if thou harm him, thou wilt be 
accursed with the vengeance of Jehovah! Take 
back thy silver, for he is innocent!’’ 

‘“What is that to us? See thou to that,’’ an- 
swered Abner, the priest,haughtily, for Caiaphas 
was too much surprised at this open exposure of 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 383 


his bribery of Judas to speak, his eyes falling 
under the withering glance of the Roman Pro- 
curator. 

**Wilt thou not release him if I give thee back 
the pieces?’’ cried Judas, in accents of despair, 
taking Caiaphas by the mantle, and then kneel- 
ing to himimploringly. But Caiaphas shook 
him off; Abner and the chief priests also spurned 
him from them, as he approached them, when 
at last, in a frenzied manner, he threw himself at 
the knees of Jesus, and cried, in the most thrill- 
ing accents: 

“Oh! Master! Master! thou hast the power! 
Release thyself. ’’ 

*“No, Judas,’’ answered the Prophet, shaking 
his head, and gazing down compassionately upon 
him, without one look of resentment at his having 
betrayed him, ‘‘mine hour is come. I may not 
escape. Tor this I came into the world.”’ 

**I believed thou wouldst not suffer thyself to 
be arrested, when they should find thee in Olivet, 
my Master, or I would not have taken their 
money. Itis my avarice that hath slain thee! 
Oh God! Oh God! itis too late!’? Thus crying, 
he rose and rushed, with his face hid in his 
cloak, forth from the presence of all, the crowd 
of men giving back hastily, as he advanced 
through their midst toward the outer gate. 

This extraordinary interruption produced a 
startling effect upon all present; and it was a 
few moments before Pilate could resume his ex- 
amination of Jesus, which he did by entering the 
Judgment Hall, and taking his seat on his throne. 
He then repeated his question, but with more 
deference than before: ‘‘Art thou a king, then?’’ 


384 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


“Thou sayest that which Iam—a king,’’ he 
answered, with a dignity truly regal in its bear- 
ing; for all the time, bound and marred as he 
was by the hands of his enemies, pale with 
suffering, and with standing a sleepless and 
fearful night upon his feet, exposed to cold and 
to insults, yet he had a kingly air, and there 
seemed to float about his head a divine glory, as 
if a sunbeam had been shining down upon him; 
yet no sunshine that day penetrated the dark- 
winged cloud that hung suspended low above the 
city. 

‘““Thou, thyself, hearest him!’’ exclaimed 
Caiaphas, standing upon the threshold of the 
Judgment Hall of the Gentile governor, which 
he would not enter for fear of defilement. 

‘“He hath, also, sought to prevent the people 
from paying tribute to Cesar!’’ cried Abner, 
shouting through an open window, for he also 
would not, on account of the holy feast, be pro- 
faned by entering a Gentile house. 

‘*He has everywhere publicly proclaimed that 
he has been ordained of God, to re-establish the 
kingdom of Judah, and overthrow the power of 
Ceesar in Jerusalem,’’ added the Governor of the 
Temple, lifting his voice so as to be heard above 
the voices of the priests and scribes, who, all 
speaking together, vehemently accused him of 
many other things which we all knew not to be 
true. 

Pilate at length obtained comparative silence, 
and then said to Jesus: 

‘‘Hearest thou these accusations? Hast thou 
no answer to make? What defense hast thou, 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 385 


Sir Prophet? Answerest thou nothing? Behold 
how many things they witness against thee!’’ 

Pilate spoke as if he had taken a deep inter- 
est in Jesus, and would give him an opportunity 
of defending himself. 

*‘He hath perverted the nation—a most pesti- 
lent and dangerous fellow!’’ exclaimed Caiaphas. 
**He is a blasphemer, above all men.’’ 

**T have nothing to do with your religion. If 
he had blasphemed your gods, take ye him and 
judge him according to your laws,’’ answered 
Pilate. 

‘*Thou knowest, O noble Roman, that we have 
no power to execute to the death—therefore do 
we accuse him before thee. ’”’ | 

*‘I am no Jew, priest! What care] for your 
domestic and religious quarrels? He hath done 
nothing, that I can learn, for which the laws of 
Imperial Rome, which now prevail here, can ad- 
judge him to death. I, therefore, command his 
release, as having done nothing worthy of capital 
punishment. A’milius, unbind thy prisoner, and 
let him go. I find no fault in him, that he should 
be longer held in bonds.”’ 

Upon this the Jews sent up acry of unmingled 
ferocity and vindictiveness. Caiaphas, forget- 
ting his fear of defilement, advanced several steps 
into the Judgment Hall, and shaking his open 
hands at Pilate, cried: 

“If thou lettest this man go, thou art not 
Ceesar’s friend. Thou art in league with him. 
He that sets himself up as a king in the wide 
bounds of Cesar’s dominions wars against 
Cesar as well at Jersualem as at Rome. If thou 
release this man, Iand my nation will accuse 


386 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


thee to thy master, Tiberius, of favoring this 
Galilean’s sedition. He hath stirred up all 
Jewry, from Galilee to this place, and yet thou 
findest no fault with him!’’ 

When Pilate heard the name of Galilee, he 
asked if the prisoner were a Galilean. Upon 
being answered in the affirmative by the excited 
priest, he said to Admilius: 

**Hold—loose not his bonds just now! Herod, 
the Tetrarch of Galilee, last night came up to 
the Passover feast of his God, and is now at the 
old Maccabean palace, with his retinue. Con- 
duct your prisoner to him, and let Herod judge 
his own subjects. Present him with this signet 
in token of amity. Tell him I will not interfere 
with his privileges, and that I desire he would 
take and judge the man as if he were in his own 
tetrarchate.’’ 

The chief priests and scribes now shouted with 
approbation at this decision, for they began to 
fear that Pilate would release him; and they 
knew that the vacillating and reckless Herod 
would do whatsoever would gain popular 
applause. 

‘If he sends us to Herod with him,”’ said the 
priest Abner, ‘‘his doom is sealed—his blood is 
ours!’’ And the multitude without hailed the 
reappearance of Admilius and his unresisting 
captive from the Judgment Hall, and followed 
them across the marble pavement of Gabbatha, 
into the street, crying: 

*“To Herod!—to the Tetrarch of Galilee with 
him!”’ 

But Caiaphas, frowning and dissatisfied, re- 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 387 


mained behind, and Pilate, glad to get rid of 
the delicate affair of condemning an innocent 
man to gratify the envy of the Jews by send- 
ing him to his enemy, Herod smilingly came 
out, and spoke to the gloomy High Priest: 

‘“Thou wert something sharp upon me just 
now, my lord Caiaphas. Thou knowest I can 
condemn men only for crimes committed against 
the laws of the Empire. This Jesus has done 
nothing worthy of death, were he called before a 
tribunal in the capital of the world itself, Cesar 
his judge.”’ 

**Noble Governor,’’ answered Caiaphas, stop- 
ping in his angry strides up and down the 
prophyry floor of the outer portico, ‘‘thou for- 
gettest that I brought him not before thee on 
this charge of blasphemy alone; but for sedition. 
By the altar of God! this is a crime known to 
thy laws, I wot!’’ 

“True. You charge a young, defenseless, 
quiet, powerless man, destitute of money, men, 
or arms, an obscure fisherman or carpenter of 
Galilee, of setting up a throne and kingdom 
against that of Tiberius Cesar, the ruler of the 
earth! The ideais absurd. It should be treated 
only with ridicule. So will Herod say, when he 
understands the affair. ”’ 

**So will not Cesar say, my lord,’’ answered 
Caiaphas, with a sneer upon his curled lip; ‘‘if 
you let this man go (for Herod will not, surely, 
accept your courtesy, and judge him within your 
jurisdiction), the Jewish nation will draw upa 
memorial, accusing you to the Emperor of pro- 
tecting treason. You will be summoned by the 


3888 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


Senate to answer the charge; and though you 
should succeed in clearing yourself, you will 
have lost your government, given to another, and 
for your fair name, you wiil live ever after 
under Ceesar’s suspicions!’’ 

Here the High Priest, said my uncle Amos, 
who heard all that passed, looked with concen- 
trated maliciousness into the eyes of the Italian 
ruler, who turned pale, and bit his lips with 
vexation. 

““My lord priest, thou art bent, I see, on this 
innocent man’s death. Jam no Jew, to under- 
stand how he has drawn upon himself thy terri- 
ble wrath, and that of thy nation. It must have 
been something Iam incapable of comprehend- 
ing. I will see what Herod will say, who, being 
a Jew, 18 familiar with your customs. lBut it 
seems to me, O priest, that the testimony of the 
wretched man whom, I see, you bribed to betray 
his master into your power, would now release 
him !’’ 

Pilate now reseated himself upon his throne. 

While he spoke, a youth threw himself from 
his horse at the door of the court, and drew near 
the Procurator. 

‘“What aileth thee, Alexander®’’ demanded 
Pilate, on seeing blood on his temples, and that 
he seemed faint. 

“But a trifle now, my good lord. I was 
thrown from my horse, who was startled ata 
burning torch lying on the ground; and was 
detained at a hospitable house until I was able to 
remount, which brings me hither late.’’ 

‘*And why come at all? What news sends my 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 389 


fair wife, that she should dispatch you from my 
house in Bethany at this early hour? No evil 
tidings, boy ?’’ 

*“None, my lord—save this note. ”’ 

The Greek page then handed his master a small 
roll of rose-tinted parchment, tied with scarlet 
thread. He cut the knot with his dagger, and 
reading the contents became deadly pale. Caia- 
phas watched him closely, as if he would read, 
reflected in his eyes, the contents of the note 
which had so deeply moved him. 

**Caiaphas,’’ said the Procurator, ‘‘this pris- 
oner must be released!”’ 

**Tt is either his destruction, proud Roman, or 
thine!’’ answered the High Priest, turning and 
walking haughtily away. 

Pilate looked after him with a troubled air, 
and then re-entered the Hall of Judgment, and 
seating himself upon his throne, again read the 
parchment: 

«* * Have thou nothing to do with this just man,’ he 
read, half aloud, ‘for [have suffered many things 
this day in a dream because of him!’ ‘The very 
gods seem to take sides with this extraordinary 
young prisoner,’ he exclaimed. ‘Would to Jove 
that Herod may have sense enough to release 
him, and relieve me of this unpleasant business. 
One might better keep in subjection a province 
of painted and savage Scythians than these fierce 
Jews, I should be well rid of my Procurator- 
ship; but I will not lose it by accusation from 
them. I must save both Jesus and myself!’ ’’ 

While he was yet speaking and musing with 
himself, unconsciously aloud, so that those who 


390 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


stood about him, among whom was El Nathan, 
the brother of the maid Mirza, who dwells in our 
household, and from whom I received this por- 
tion of the narrative, there was heard a great 
noise of voices, in the direction of the Maccabean 
Palace; and asit grew nearer and more distinct, 
Pilate started up, and cried: 

**It is as 1 feared—Herod gives them no satis- 
action, and they come again to me! Oh, that 
the gods would give me wisdom and nerve for 
this trying hour, so that I condemn not the in- 
nocent, nor bring myself into the power of an 
accusation to Cesar, from these wicked Jews!’’ 

At this moment the multitude, increased, if it 
were possible, in numbers and in vindictiveness, 
reappeared, pressing Jesus before them. ‘This 
time he was alone, Aimilius having been sepa- 
rated from him in the palace, and kept by the 
crowd from rejoining him. He was now un- 
bound, and upon his head was a crown of thorns, 
piercing the tender temples, till the blood 
trickled all down his face; upon his shoulders 
was clasped an old purple royal robe, once worn 
by Herod, in his state of petty king; and his 
hand held a reed, as a scepter; and as he walked 
along, the bitterest among the priests, as well as 
the vilest of the common fellows, bent the knee 
before him, crying: 

‘*Hail! King Jesus! Hail, Royal Nazarene! 
All hail!’’ 

Others went before him, carrying mock stand- 
ards—while others, acting as heralds, ran, 
shouting: , 

*< ‘Make way for the King of the Jews! Do 


ca) 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 391 


homage, all men, to Cesar! Thisis the great 
Tiberius, Emperor of Narazeth! Behold his glit- 
tering crown! Mark his royal robes, and see his 
dazzling scepter! Bend the knee—bend the 
knee, men of Judah, before your king!”’ 

When Pilate saw this spectacle, and heard 
these words, he trembled, and was heard to say: 

‘*Kither this man or I must perish! These 
Jews are become madmen with rage, and demand 
a sacrifice. One of us must fall!’’ 

Oh! that I could write all I feel; but I am 
compelled, my dear father, to end here. 

Your affectionate child, 
ADINA. 


892 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


LETTER XXXTIi. 


My Dear Faruer: In this letter, which I write 
in the solitude of my chamber, while all in the 
house have sought repose, will be continued my 
account of the trial, if such it can be called, of 
Jesus. Ihave already shown you how he was 
first taken to Annas, and thence dragged before 
Caiaphas, who, unable to execute upon him the 
sentence of death, sent him to the Procurator 
Pilate, charged with conspiracy, and he, shrink- 
ing from condemning a man whom he knew to 
be innocent of any crime, and yet fearing to 
release him, lest he should be impeached by the 
Jews to Cesar, sought to shift the responsibility 
upon Herod, in whose trearchy lay Nazareth, 
where Jesus ordinarily dwelt. 

John, the faithful and yet trusting disciple 
whom Jesus loved, still kept near his captive 
Master, and sought to cheer him by affectionate 
looks, and, where he could do it with safety, by 
kind acts. More than once he was rudely thrust 
aside by the fiercer Jews, and once several men 
seized upon him, and would have done him vio- 
lence, as a follower of the Prophet, if Caiaphas, 
to whom John is remotely related, and who 
knows him weil, had not interposed. Indeed, it 
was through this protecting influence of the 
High Priest that the disciple was allowed to 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 393 


remain near Jesus. And while John was thus 
doing all that he could to soften the asperity 
of his friend’s treatment, we at home were exert- 
ing ourselves to soothe the maternal solicitude 
of Mary of Nazareth, his noble and heart-broken 
mother, whom with difficulty we could restrain 
from rushing to the palace and casting herself 
at the feet of the Procurator to implore him to 
interpose to save her son—her only son—from the 
hands of his own countrymen! Thus a twofold 
scene of anguish at the palace and in the house 
of Rabbi Amos was passing. Mary Martha, and 
Lazarus, were also with us, having come into the 
city as soon as my cousin Mary’s letter reached 
them; and, besides, there were with us four or 
five of the disciples, who had come in, one by 
one, secretly, for fear of being seized by the 
Jews, and were anxiously waiting here the result, 
and firmly believing that Jesus would yet free 
himself by his divine and miraculous power. At 
every approach of a footfall at the door, they 
eagerly cried: ‘“‘It is the Lord!’’ But ah, in 
vain their hopes and all our anticipations! 

Herod, the Tetrarch of Galilee, who occupied 
the old palace of the Maccabees, which Alexan- 
der, the Macedonian, had built for Seleucus, was 
breaking his fast with fruit and wine, at a table 
overlooking, by a window, the street of the Gen- 
tiles, when the noise of the advancing thousands 
of the Jews, who were bringing Jesus before 
him, reached his ear. He started from the table, 
and said: 

‘These people are surely up in insurrection 
against Pilate!’’ 


394 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


BJ 


*“No, great Prince,’’ answered the lad Abel, 
his cup-bearer, who is a cousin to John, and has 
told me many of these things; ‘‘they have taken 
the Nazarene Prophet Jesus, and are trying him 
for sedition. ’”’ 

‘““This uproar proceeds from no trial buta wild 
mob in motion, and they seem to be approach- 
ing,’’ was his answer to him. 

As Herod spoke, he went to the lattice of his 
basilica, and beheld the head of the multitude, 
just emerging into the street, from that which 
descended from the hill of the Pretorium. At 
first he could not make out of the confused mass 
any individual objects. 

‘<There are spears and Romans in the van—and 
I see priests and peasants mixed together. I 
now see the cause of all the tumult—a mere 
youth, bound and soiled, and pale as marble! 
What, sirs, this is not the Great Prophet, of 
whose fame I have heard?’’ he said, turning to 
his officers. 

‘“What mean they by bringing him hither? 
Yet, Per Bacchom! Iam glad to get a sight of 
bim!’’ 

The crowd, like the swelling Nile, flowed 
toward the gates, roaring and chafing like its 
mighty cataracts, so that there was something 
fearfully sublime in this display of the power of 
human passions. Admilius with difficulty suc- 
ceeded in getting his prisoner into the piazza of 
the palace, so closely pressed the crowd of Jews 
around and upon him. At length he stood with 
him before Herod in his banquet hall, at the 
further end of which was a dais, or throne, 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 395 


where the Tetrarch sat down, while the Jews 
filled all the vast room with a billowy sea of 
eager faces. 

‘Most royal Prince,’’ said Almilius, kneeling 
before Herod, and presenting the signet, ‘‘I am 
sent by his excellency, Pontius Pilate, the Roman 
Procurator of Judea, to bring before you this 
person, accused of blasphemy! Ignorant of 
your customs and faith, the Governor desires that 
you, who are of his nation, would examine him: 
and, moreover, Pilate, learning that he is a Gali- 
lean, and a subject of your jurisdiction, cour- 
teously declines interfering with your authority.’”’ 

When Herod Antipas heard delivered so cour- 
teous a message from the Procurator, with whom 
he had been some time at enmity, partly on ac- 
count of Herod’s cruel murder of John the Bap- 
tizer, whom Pilate thought much of, he was 
pleased. 

*“Say thou, Sir Knight, to his Excellency, the 
most noble and princely Governor of Judea, that 
I appreciate his extraordinary civility, and that 
nothing will give me more pleasure, in return for 
such distinguished courtesy, than to be con- 
sidered by him his friend; and that I regret any 
occurrence that has hitherto estranged us. Con- 
vey to him my assurances of the high estima- 
tion in which he has ever been held by me.’’ 

/Mmilius, upon receiving this answer, arose, 
and bowed, and then said, with the boldness 
which characterizes him: 

‘*Most noble and royal king, I pray you heed 
not the charges of these Jews, touching this pris- 
oner. They have conceived against him a bitter 


396 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


natred, without just cause. He has done nothing 
worthy of death! Pilate could find nothing 
whatsoever in him deserving of the attention 
of the dignity of a Roman tribunal.’”’ 

*‘Let thy prisoner fear not,’’ answered Herod, 
regarding Jesus attentively, as he stood before 
him, in the calm majesty of innocence. “‘I will 
not take Pilate’s prerogative of judgment out of 
his hand, so handsomely tendered to me. If he 
hath blasphemed, Mehercule! the High Priest, 
and priests of the Temple itself,’’ he added, 
laughing, ‘‘do that every day of their lives; for 
religion is at alow ebb among the hypocritical 
knaves. Ihave nothing todo with their charges 
of blasphemy, or I would have them all stoned 
to death without mercy. I will first see some 
miracles wrought by thy far-famed prisoner, 
good Aimilius, and then send him back to my 
noble friend Pontius, whom his gods prosper in 
all things.’’ 

Herod, then fixing his eyes curiously upon 
Jesus, who had stood silently before him, seem- 
ingly the only unmoved person in the vast con- 
course, heaving and murmuring around him, said 
to the soldiers: 

‘“‘Unbind him! Some one bring water to re- 
move the blood from his cheeks and beard. By 
the staff of Jacob! he hath been roughly handled. 
Men of israel, it becomes not such as you to do 
violence to aman before he is condemned; and 
then if it be proved he have done aught deserv- 
ing chastisement, let the law punish him. This 
man is a Galilean, and 1am bound to see him 
have justice, and to protect him from wrong.”’ 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 39% 


While he was speaking, water was brought, 
and vohn, with a napkin, wiped away the stains 
of blood which flowed from the wound on his 
temple, inflicted by the staves of the Jews, and 
also removed the spots from his princely beard 
and golden hair. He also arranged his mantle 
about his form. Herod regarded with interest 
and looks of compassion the pale and divinely- 
serene countenance of the prisoner; and seemed 
struck with the indescribable majesty of his 
aspect and bearing, and the purity of soul that 
beamed from his holy eyes. 

*‘Art thou the Nazarene, Jesus, of whom I 
have heard so much?’’ he asked, in deferential 
tones. 

*‘Tam he,’’ was the quiet answer of the captive. 

**Then gladly do I meet thee; for I have long 
time desired to see thee; and [would fain behold 
thee do some miracle. Men say thou canst heal 
the sick, restore the maimed, and raise the dead! 
Does rumor belie thy powers? What! Artthou 
silent? Dost thou not know who it is that 
speaks to thee? Come hither, fellow;’’ he called 
to a Samaritan muleteer, who stood in the crowd, 
whose oval face and Jewish eyes showed him to 
be both of Assyrian and Israelitish descent, 
whose arm had been taken off by a sword, in a 
contest with Barabbas and his robbers: ‘‘Come 
hither, and let this Prophet prove his power and 
mission, by restoring thy arm whole, like as the 
other!’’ | 

The man alertly came forward, and all eyes 
vere directed eagerly upon him, and upon Jesus; 
Kut he thrust the stump of his arm, by Herod’s 


398 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


order, in vain before Jesus. The eyes of the 
Prophet moved not from their meditative look 
upon the ground. 

‘‘Art thou mocking us, thou false Christ?’’ 
cried the Tetrarch angrily; ‘‘wilt thou neither 
speak nor act? If thou art not an impostor, do 
a miracle before us all, and we will believe in 
thee!’’ 

Jesus remained motionless, yet with a firm and 
majestic countenance that made him look more 
kingly than Herod. 

‘“‘He is a deceiver! He performed his works 
through Beelzebub, who has now deserted him!’’ 
cried the priests. 

‘Nazarene,’ said Herod, ‘‘I ama Jew also. 
If thou wilt prove to me, by a sign that I will 
name, that thou art the Christ, I will not only 
become thy follower, but will let thee go free. 
Your silence is an insult to my power. I warn 
thee that my patience is not divine—I make no 
pretensions to superior sanctity. Thou seest 
yonder marble statue of Judas Maccabeus. 
Command the sword in its hand to wave thrice 
above its helmeted head, and I will bend the 
knee to thee! Nay—wilt not? I will give thee 
.something easier to do! Seest thou the carved 
pomegranates in the entablature of the wall? 
Bid the one which hangs over this column to turn 
into ripe, natural fruit, and fall at my feet! 
No?”’ 

‘He has no power—his friend Beelzebub hath 
given him up into our hands! Death to the 
necromancer!’’ were the words which now made 
the hall tremble. 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 399 


*‘He is an accursed blasphemer! He would 
destroy the Temple! He calls himself the Son of 
God! He breaks the Sabbath day! He isa foe 
to our religion!’’ was shouted by Abner, the 
priests, and the scribes. 

‘*See the whirlwind thou hast raised, O Naza- 
rene!’’ cried Herod, rising; ‘‘if thou art a 
Prophet, no harm can they do thee; and if thou 
art an impostor, if they kill thee thou deservest 
thy fate! I give thee up into their hands! Save 
thyself, if thou thou be the Christ!’’ 

Scarcely had Herod spoken these words, relin- 
quishing Jesus into the hands of his foes than, 
with a savage cry, as the famished jackals in the 
desert rush upon their prey, they rushed upon 
their victim. AJmilius could not protect him: 
nay, some of Herod’s soldiers, whom the Jews 
had half-intoxicated with wine, joined them as 
soon as they saw their master Antipas had cast 
him off, and began to scoff and mock him, and 
one of them thrust a helmet on his head, an 
pulled the visor down over his eyes! 

‘“Nay,’’ said Herod, on seeing this, ‘‘as he 
calls himself a king, crown him and robe him 
royally, and place ascepter in his hand; and 
yonder block will make him a proper throne! 
We must show Pilate how we Jews serve men 
who usurp the power of his master Casar!’’ 

No words could have better pleased the people, 
save such as would have sentenced Jesus to 
death. With a glad response, they began to put 
into execution the hint he had so wickedly given 
them. One of his men of war brought a cast-off 
robe of purple, which belonged to Herod, and, 


400 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


with loud shouts of laughter, and coarse jests, 
they robed him in it, unresisting as the lamb 
wreathed for the sacrifice. Some one then un- 
twined the creeping thern, which grew on the 
outer wall, and twisting it into the shape ofa 
crown, handed it over the heads of the men to 
Abner, whose hatred against Jesus proceeded 
from the well-known fact that among the changers 
of money, whom he drove from the Temple, was 
a younger brother, who was making, by his busi- 
ness, great gains for the avaricious priest; who, 
therefore, never forgave this act of the Prophet. 

When Abner saw the crown, he smiled with 
malicious gratification, and nodding approvingly 
to the man, said: 

‘‘This is what we needed! Nothing could have 
done better ;’’ and with his two hands he placed 
it upon the head of Jesus, pressing, cruelly, the 
sharp thorns into his temples, till the blood 
trickled from a dozen wounds. Jesus made no 
complaint, but the pain forced large bright tears 
from his eyes, which rolled down his cheeks, and 
fell along the purple robe like glittering pearls. 

‘‘Here is also a scepter for our king!’’ ex- 
claimed the man with one arm, using this one to 
reach a piece of reed, from which a Passover- 
lamb had been slung, to those who were arraying 
Jesus. This was thrust into his grasp, and he 
held it patiently. His submission, his silence, 
his endurance of pain, his constant dignity, the 
majestic indifference which he seemed to mani- 
fest to all their insults and tortures, brought 
tears into the eyes of Aumilius; and John, unable 
to benefit his dear master, kneeling at his feet, 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 401 


bathed them with his flowing tears, nor stirred, 
though men trampled upon him, and smote him; 
but he desired to suffer with his Master, and, as 
he said to me, would gladly have borne in his 
stead all his indignities. Even Herod stood 
amazed at such God-like forbearance, and said to 
his chief-captain: ‘‘If this man is not the Son of 
God, he is worthy to be deified. Such sublime 
patience is more than human—itisdivine! You 
Romans, Admilius, would make a hero of such a 
man, and when he died worship him as a god!”’ 

‘“Then, mighty Prince, why suffer him to be 
thus entreated?’’ asked Aimilius. 

‘*It is his own choice. Ihave entreated him 
fairly! I asked of him but one of those miracles 
men say he works, as proof of his Messiahship, 
and he works me none—shows me no sign! The 
inference is that he can do none, and therefore 
is an impostor. Else why not prove to me his 
pretensions by working a miracle ?’’ 

**Most royal Prince,’’ said Abner, aloud, ‘‘thou 
now beholdest the ‘King of the Jews,’ crowned, 
robed, and sceptered!’’ and he pointed to Jesus. 

**Hail! most puissant and potent sovereign of 
Galilee! Hail! King of Fishermen!’’ cried 
Herod, mocking him and seemingly greatly 
amused at the jest. ‘“‘If thou wilt tell mein 
what part of cloud-land thy capital lies, I and my 
court will pay thee avisit. Doubtless, thou hast 
a brave army of Galilee fishermen and a mighty 
fleet of fishing boats! Hail! powerful king! 
What, fellows, men-at-arms, and all ye gapers! 
bend ye not the knee before this royal personage? 
Do homage to your king!”’ 


402 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


Upon this all who were around him kneeled, 
and some mockingly prostrated themselves be- 
fore the Prophet; but he stocd so very like a 
monarch that others, who were about to mock 
him, refrained; and Herod even turned away, 
with a troubled look, saying abruptly: 

‘“Take him back to the Procurator!’’ 

Once more the vast multitude were in motion, 
and with cries and insults, escorted Jesus from 
the presence of Herod back to the Pretorium, 
as I have already stated in my previous letter. 

When Pilate beheld their return in this man- 
ner, and understood how that Herod declined 
exercising his privilege in the matter, he was 
greatly vexed. When, once more, Jesus stood 
before him, arrayed, as I have described, in the 
gorgeous robe and crown, Pilate, turning toward 
Caiaphas and the priests, said angrily: 

‘*What more will ye have? Why bring this 
man again before me? Ye say he perverteth the 
people. Behold, I have examined him before 
you, and have found no fault in him. You 
proved nothing by your witnesses, touching 
those things whereof ye accuse him. I then 
sent you with him to Herod, andlo! the Tetrarch 
of Galilee, one of your own nation, finds naught 
in him worthy of death! Doubtless he has said 
something about not paying tribute, and de- 
serves for thisalight punisnment, but not death. 
I will chastise him, and charge him that he be 
more cautious, and let him go.”’ 

‘Tf thou let this man go, thou art an enemy 
to Tiberius,’’ answered Caiaphas; ‘‘see thou 
what a commotion he has raised in the city? If 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 403 


he is released there will be a revolution, and 
Ceesar will come and take away our place and 
nation. Is it better that all Judea should perish 
than one man? Itis expedient that either he die 
or the people perish. Nothing less than his life 
will now be received.’’ 

**In the name of Olympian Jove, O Nazarene, 
what hast thou done to incense these Jews? If 
thou art their king, prove it to them or to me,’’ 
demanded Pilate, greatly troubled. 

‘“My kingdom is not of the earth,’’ answered 
Jesus. ‘“‘If my kingdom were an earthly one, 
then would my servants fight, that I should not 
be delivered to the Jews; but my kingdom is not 
of this world.’”’ 

*‘Then thou confessest thyself a king!’’ ex- 
claimed Pilate, with surprise. 

‘“Thou sayest that which I am—a King. To 
this end was I born, and for this cause came I 
into the world, that I should bear witness to the 
truth.’’ 

“Truth! What is truth?’’ asked the Roman; 
but, without waiting for Jesus to reply, and see- 
ing that the Jews outside of the Hall were be- 
coming more and more impatient, he hurriedly 
went out to them, and said: 

‘*T find in the prisoner no fault at all. But ye 
have a custom, that I should at the Passover par- 
don a criminal out of prison, as an act of 
clemency, in honor of the day. Will ye, there- 
fore, that I pardon and release unto you this 
‘king of the Jews?’ ”’ 

No sooner had Pilate made this proposal than 
they all, with ove voice, and furious gestures, 
cried: 


404 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


**No! no!—not this man! We will not have 
him released. We will have the vilest malefac- 
tor thy prison holds rather than he!’’ 

‘“Whom shall I then release unto you?’’ de- 
manded Pilate, in a tone of disappointment. 

‘‘Barabbas! Barabbas!’’ was echoed and re- 
echoed by ten thousand voices. 

This Barabbas, dear father, is the same fierce 
bandit, of whom I have spoken in one of my 
earlier letters, two years ago. He has recently 
been taken captive, while heading a revolt, in 
the hill country south, and lies now under con- 
demnation of death, and was on that day to have 
been crucified, with two of hislieutenants. But, 
at the loud demand of the people, Pilate was 
forced to send to the officer of the wards to let 
him go free; and it was but a short time before 
he was escorted from his cell to the front of the 
Pretorium in great pomp, and became presently 
one of the most active in hostility to Jesus. 

Pilate, therefore, finding that the Jews would 
be content with nothing less than the blood of 
Jesus, returned sorrowfully into the Judgment 
Hall, where he had left him seated upon the 
lower step of his throne; for he could no longer 
stand for weariness, and for the heavy treatment 
he had undergone. 

The residue of my narrative of the condemna- 
tion and crucifixion I will give in the morning, 
dear father. 

Your loving daughter, 
ADINA. 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID, 405 


LETTER XXXIV. 


My Dearest Fatuer: I now resume the narra~ 
tive of the condemnation, or rather sentence, of 
Jesus, after he had been brought a second time 
before Pilate. The Procurator, finding that the 
Jews would have the Prophet’s life, and that, 
if he resisted further, he himself would be re- 
ported to Cesar, as protecting a revolutionist 
and usurper, vacillated, and showed an indeci- 
sion that became not a Roman governor. His 
sense of justice revolted at sacrificing to the 
hatred of the people an innocent man, against 
whom no accusation had been proven; and he 
feared for his own name and fame, should 
Tiberius, who is always jealous of his Oriental 
governors, believe their statement of the case. 

Jesus, as I stated in my last, had, from weak- 
ness, sunk upon the steps of the throne of the 
Hall of Judgment. John knelt by him, bathing 
the wounds in his temples, from which he had 
boldly taken the crown of thorns. When Pilate, 
after giving the order to release the robber-chief, 
Barabbas, came again where Jesus was, he 
stopped, and regarded him attentively, and with 
an expression of sorrow and admiration. The 
youthful beauty, the dignity, even in his humil- 
lation, the patience and air of innocence that 
enveloped him, deeply impressed him. At 
length he spoke: 


406 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


‘‘If thou be indeed a god, O heroic young 
man, as thy patience would seem to prove thee to 
be, thou needest not to fear these bloodhounds 
that bay so fiercely for thy blood. If thou art 
an impostor and a seditionist, thou verily merit- 
est death. lIregard thee but as a youthful en- 
thusiast, and would let thee go free; but I 
cannot protect thee. My soldiers are reduced, 
by sending them to garrison Jericho and Gaza, 
to less than three hundred men; and of these 
enraged Jews there are half a million in the city. 
It is only by moral force, and show of power 
that I keep them in subjection. If I release 
thee, not only thou, but all my troops, will be 
massacred; for we are but a handful in their 
grasp. ‘Tell me truly, art thou the son of 
Jupiter ?’’ 

When Jesus, instead of replying, remained 
silent, the Procurator said, sternly: 

‘*What, speakest thou not unto me? Knowest 
thou not that I have power to crucify thee asa 
malefactor, and power, if I choose to meet the 
risk, to release thee ?’’ 

Jesus looked up, and calmly said: 

‘*Thou couldst have no power against me ex- 
cept it were given thee from above. Therefore, 
he that delivered me into thy hand hath the 
greater sin!’’ 

And as Jesus said these words in an impressive 
tone, he glanced fixedly at Caiaphas, who was 
looking in at the door, as if designating the 
High-Priest. Upon this Pilate pressed his hands 
against his forehead, and paced several times, to 
and fro, before the Judgment-seat, as if greatly 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 407 


troubled. Caiaphas, seeing his irresolution, 
cried harshly : 

“If thou let this self-styled king go, O 
Governor, thou art not Cesar’s friend! Our 
whole nation charges him, before you, with set- 
ting himself up to be our king over us, when 
Tiberius is the only king to whom we can owe 
allegiance. Release the Usurper, if thou darest, 
and I would not give two brass mites for thy 
head!’’ | 

Pilate’s brow grew dark. He took Jesus by 
the hand, and leading him to the portal, and 
pointing to him, said aloud: 

“Behold your king! What will you that I 
should do with him! Looks he like a man to 
be feared ?’’ 

‘We have no king but Cesar!’’ 

**Crucify him!’’ 

‘To the Cross with the false Prophet!’’ 

‘“Death to the Usurper! Long live Cesar! 
Long live Tiberius! Deathtothe Nazarine! To 
the Cross—to the Cross with him! Let him be 
crucified!’’ 

These were the various cries from ten thou- 
sand throats that responded to the Procurator’s 
address. Impressed, as he has since said, with 
the innocence of Jesus, and remembering the 
warning message sent him by his young and 
beautiful wife, who held great influence over 
him, he trembled with indecision. 

‘*Why will you compel me to crucify an inno- 
cent man? What evil hath he done?’’ 

*‘Crucify him! Crucify him!’’ was the deafen- 
ing response. 


408 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


“TI will chastise him and let him go!’’ 

**At your peril, release him, O Roman!’’ ex- 
claimed Caiaphas, in a menacing tone. ‘‘EKither 
he or you must die this day for the people. 
Blood must flow to appease this tempest!’’ 

The tumult was now appalling. The voices of 
the chief priests and people kept up a eeaseless 
uproar, calling for his crucifixion; and in vain 
Pilate appealed to their humanity and justice. 
They drowned his voice with their own; and his 
gesticulations for silence only increased the 
roar of the human whirlwind. 

When the Procurator saw that he could pre- 
vail nothing, but that rather the tumult in- 
creased, he called for water, which was brought 
to him in a basin by his page; and, in the pres- 
ence of the whole multitude, he washed his 
hands, saying: 

*‘T am innocent of the blood of this just person. 
See ye to it, oh Jews, yeand your High-Priest!’’ 

‘*His blood be upon us, and on our children,”’’ 
answered Caiaphas; and all the people re-echoed 
his language: 

‘*Ay! on us and on our children rest the 
guilt of his blood!’’ 

‘‘Be it so,’’ answered the Procurator, with a 
dark brow, and face pale as the dead. Take ye 
him and crucify him, and may the God he wor- 
ships judge you, not me, for this day’s deeds.”’ 

Pilate then turned away from them, and said 
to Jesus, who stood unmoved, with the same 
heroic and celestial serenity which he had mani- 
fested throughout the storm raging about him: 

‘Thou art, I feel, an innocent man; but thou 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 409 


seest that I cannot save thee! I know thou wilt 
forgive me, and that death can have no terrors 
for one of fortitude like thine!’’ 

Jesus made him no answer; and Pilate, turning 
from him with a sad countenance, walked slowly 
away, and left the Judgment-Hall. As he did so 
one of his captains said to him: 

**Shall I scourge him, according to the Roman 
law, which commands all who are sentenced to 
die to be scourged?’’ 

*“Do as the law commands,’’ answered the 
weak-minded Roman. 

His disappearance was the signal for a general 
rush: toward Jesus, chiefly of the rabble, who, 
indifferent about Gentile defilement, crossed the 
threshold into the hall, which Caiaphas and the 
chief priests had refrained from doing. ‘These 
base fellows seized Jesus, and, aided by the 
men-at-arms, dragged him forth into the outer 
or common hall. Here they stripped him, and by 
order of the chief captain, scourged him with 
forty stripes, save one. They then rearrayed 
his lacerated and bleeding form in the torn, 
kingly robe, which John had removed when he 
had taken off his crown; but now they replaced 
both the crown and the robe, and once more went 
through the mockery of homage, kneeling, and 
hailing him, ‘‘King of the Jews!”’ 

All this Jesus still bore with godlike majesty. 
Not a murmur escaped his lips; not a glance of 
resentment kindled the holy depths of his eyes, 
which, from time to time, were uplifted to 
heaven, as if he sought for help and strength 
from thence. 


410 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


Not only Aimilius, but John, was now sepa- 
rated from him; but my uncle, the Rabbi, stood 
near, in order to see what would follow, and to 
use his influence, if possible, to induce the chief 
priests to abandon the idea of killing him. 

‘““Good Rabbi,’’ said Jesus to him, ‘‘let them 
do with me what they list! My Father hath 
given me into their hands. I die, but not for 
myself; Ican keep or yield up my life, as I will.’’ 

‘*Oh, then, dear Master!’’ cried my uncle, 
‘‘why not save thyself? Why shouldst thou 
suffer all this, and death also, if thou hast the 
power over thy life ?’’ 

“If I die not, then were ye all dead! The 
Scripture must be fulfilled, which spoke of me: 
‘He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.’ ”’ 

Here Rabbi Amos could speak no more to him, 
for the crowd dragged him off out of the court of 
Gabbatha, and so down the steep street, in the 
direction of the gate of the kings that leads to 
the Hill of Calvary, the public place of execu- 
tion, where the Romans, since they have been 
masters of Jerusalem, have executed criminals 
by their cruel mode of crucifving. At the gate 
a Roman Centurion took him into custody, under 
arms, and escorted him, followed by the vast 
multitude. 

Rabbi Amos accompanied the multitude, keep- 
ing as nigh to Jesusasthe Roman soldiers, who 
marched on each side of him, would let him. 
On the way, as they crossed the open space where 
once stood the palace and statue of Antiochus 
Seleucus, the eyes of the Rabbi were attracted by 
the cries and pointed fingers of many of the 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 411 


people to the body of a man lying dead at the 
foot of a withered fig tree. Upon drawing 
nearer he recognized the features of Judas, who 
had so basely betrayed his Master. The spec- 
tacle which he exhibited was revolting, and hor- 
rid to look upon. About his neck was wound a 
fragment of his girdle, the other half being still 
secured to a limb of the tree, showing how he 
had met his fate. The cord had broken by his 
weight, and being a fleshy man, he had, most 
dreadful to relate, in the fall burst asunder, and 
the hungry dogs that infest the suburbs were 
feeding upon his bowels. With cries of horror 
several of the Jews drove them away, and the 
Roman Centurion, whom Pilate had ordered to 
crucify Jesus for the Jews, directed four of his 
soldiers to convey the hideous corpse from 
sight, and see that it was either burned or 
buried. 

‘*Tf,’’ said Rabbi Amos to John, who now re- 
joined him, ‘‘if the accusers of Jesus are to be 
punished like this man, this will be a fearful day 
for the men of Jerusalem. Judas, the betrayer 
dies before his victim dies, and by his own hand. 
This looks like Divine retribution, and, as if 
Jesus were, in truth, the favored Prophet of the 
Highest. ”’ 

By this time the people, who were dragging 
Jesus to death, were got out of the gate, where a 
eross of heavy cypress was obtained by the Cen- 
turion, from ayard near the lodge, wherein stood 
several new crosses, awaiting whatsoever victims 
Roman justice might, from day to day, condemn 
to death. Two others were also brought out, 


412 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


and laid upon the shoulders of two men, the lieu- 
tenants of Barabbas, who were also that day to 
be crucified. The released Barabbas was himself 
, present, and the most active in laying the cross 
‘upon the back of the already faint and drooping 
Jesus. 

By the time the great crowd had passed the 
gate, it was known throughout all Jerusalem that 
Pilate had given orders for the crucifixion of the 
Nazarene Prophet; and, with one mind, all who 
had known him, and believed in him, or loved 
him, left their houses, to go out after him, to 
witness his crucifixion; for, I forgot to say that 
Caiaphas had promised if Jesus were delivered 
up, his followers should not be molested. There- 
fore, every person went out of the gate toward 
Calvary. Mary, his mother, my cousin Mary, 
Martha and her sister, Lazarus, John, and Peter, 
and Thomas, and some women, his relatives from 
Galilee, and many others also went. When we 
had got without the walls, we seemed to leave a 
deserted city behind us. As far as the eye could 
embrace there was a countless multitude moving 
along the vast space between the Gate of the 
Kings and Mount Calvary. Jesus was borne in 
front, where we could now and then catch the 
gleam of a Roman spear. We hastened to get 
near him, and, with difficulty, made our way to 
the head of the throng; both foes and friends 
giving back when they saw his weeping mother 
among us. 

At the ascent of Calvary we found that, from 
some cause, the course of the mighty current of 
human beings was checked. We soon learned 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 413 


the reason. Jesus had, at length, sunk to the 
ground, under the weight of the wooden beams 
on which he was to die, and fainted. 

**Heis dead!’’ was the cry of those about him; 
but, as we drew near, he was reviving, some one 
having offered wine to his lips, and poured 
water upon his brow. He stood up, and look- 
ing mildly around, and meeting his mother’s 
gaze, he said touchingly: 

‘“Weep not! Remember what I have often 
told thee of this hour, and believe! The sword 
pierces through thy soul, but itis held in my 
Father’s hand. Mine hour is come.’’ 

Thus speaking, he smiled upon his mother, 
and upon us, with a certain look of Divine peace 
illuminating his countenance. 

Barabbas, the robber-chief, who had, in some 
degree, taken the lead of the mob, now with the 
aid of three men, raised the cross to the shoulders 
of Jesus, and ordered him to move on. But the 
young victim sank at once beneath the load. 
Upon this they were at a loss what to do; for it 
is ignominious for Jew or Gentile to aid in bear- 
ing a malefactor’s cross, and not a Roman would 
touch it; and the Jews would not for fear of de- 
filement, which would compel them to be set 
apart afterward for many days’ purification. 
Barabbas again raised Jesus to his feet, and be- 
gan to scourge him, to make him drag the heavy 
beams up the steep of Calvary. But he had no 
strength to advance three steps with it, though 
he made the effort to obey his tyrannous execu- 
tioners. At this crisis they discerned a Syro- 
Phoenician merchant, Simon of Cyrene, a vener- 


414 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


able man, well known to all in Jerusalem, and 
father of the two young men, Rufus and Alex- 
ander, who were followers of Jesus, having sold, 
the last year, all they had, in order to become 
his disciples, and sit at his feet and listen to his 
Divine teachings. Their father was, for this or 
some other reason, particularly obnoxious to 
Caiaphas, and, on seeing him, he pointed him 
out to the Centurion ‘‘as one of the Nazarenes,’’ 
and suggested that he should be compelled to 
bear the cross after him. 

The Cyrenian merchant was at once dragged 
from his mule, and led to the place where the 
cross lay, believing he was about to be himself 
executed. But when he beheld Jesus standing, 
pale and bleeding, by the fallen cross, and knew 
what was required of him, he burst into tears, 
and kneeling at his feet, said: 

‘‘If they compel me to do this, Lord, think 
not that I aid thy death! I know that thou art 
a Prophet come from God! If thou diest to-day, 
Jerusalem will have more precious blood to 
answer for than the blood of all her prophets. ’’ 

‘““We brought thee here not to prate, old man, 
but to work. Thou art strong-bodied. Up 
with this end of the cross, and go on after him!’’ 
cried the chief priests. 

Simon, who is a powerful man, though three- 
score years of age, raised the extremity of the 
beam, and Jesus essayed to move under the 
weight of the other; but he failed. 

‘Let me bear it alone, Master,’’ answered the 
stout Simon; ‘‘I am the stronger. Thou hast 
enough to bear the weight of thy own sorrow. 


PRENCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 415 


If it be a shame to bear a oross after thee, I glory 
in my shame, as would my two sons were they 
here this day.’’ 

Thus speaking ina courageous and bold voice, 
and looking as brave as if he would as gladly be 
nailed to the cross for his Master as carry it 
after him (for Simon had long believed in him, 
as well as his sons), he lifted the cross upon his 
shoulders, and ascended the steep after Jesus, 
who, weak from loss of blood and of sleep, and 
weary unto death, had to lean for support 
against one arm of the instrument of death. 

Ah, my dear father, what a place was this, up 
which we climbed! Skulls lay scattered beneath 
our footsteps, and everywhere human bones 
bleached in the air; and we trod in heaps of 
ashes where the Romans had burned the bodies 
of those whom they crucified. 

At length we reached the top of this hill of 
death, on which five crosses were already stand- 
ing. Upon one of them a criminal still hung, 
just alive, who had been nailed to it the noon 
before. He called feebly for water, but some 
derided, and all passed him unhesded. There 
was an empty space on the summit, and here the 
Centurion stopped, and ordered the crosses to be 
set in the rock, where deep holes had been 
already cut for them. The crosses carried by 
the thieves were now thrown down by them; by 
one with an execration, by the other with a sigh, 
as he anticipated the anguish he was to suffer 
upon it. 

The larger cross of the three was that for 
Jesus. It was taken by three soldiers from the 


416 PRIN€E OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


back of the old Cyrenian merchant, and thrown 
heavily upon the earth. It was now that a crisis 
approached of the most painful interest. The 
Centurion ordered his soldiers to clear a circle 
about the place where the crosses were to be 
planted with their spears. The Jews, who had 
erowded near in eager thirst for their victim’s 
‘blood, gave back slowly and reluctantly before 
| the sharp points of the Roman ldnces, pushed 
against their breasts; for the Centurion had with 
him full threescore men-at-arms, besides a part 
of Herod’s guard. So great was the desire of 
the Jews to get near, that helpless females could 
not be otherwise than crowded away from the 
immediate scene. John, however, held his place 
close by his Master. He relates that Jesus con- 
tinued to evince the same sublime composure 
when the Centurion commanded the crucifiers to 
advance and nail the malefactors to their crosses. 
The robber-lieutenant, Ishmerai, who was an 
Edomite, upon seeing the man approach with the 
basket containing the spikes and hammers, 
scowled fiercely upon him, and looked defiance. 
' He was instantly seized by four savage-looking 
Parthian soldiers of the Roman guard, and 
stripped and thrown upon his back upon the 
cross. His struggles, for he was an athletic 
man, were so violent that it took six persons to 
keep him held down upon the arms of the cross, 
and his palms spread open to receive the enter- 
ing nail, which one of the crucifiers, with naked 
and brawny arms, by pressing one knee upon 
the wrist, drove in through the flesh and wood 
with three quick and powerful blows with 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 41% 


his short, heavy-headed hammer. Ishmerai 
enashed his teeth as the nail entered the quiver- 
ing flesh. The other hand, in like mannner, was 
fastened with difficulty to the other arm of the 
wood; andthen, both feet being lapped together, 
a long, sharp spear-nail was driven through both 
into the timber, while a shriek, mingled with 
curses, bore testimony to the agony suffered by 
the wretched man. 

Thus secured, he was left, bleeding and writh- 
ing, by the six crucifiers; for there are four to 
bind the victim, one to hold the spikes, and the 
sixth to drive them home with his hammer; and 
from the glance I caught of their half-naked and 
blood-stained figures, they were worthy to hold 
the dreadful office, which made all men shun 
them as if they were leprous. 

They now approached Omri, the other robber, 
who was a young man, with a mild look, and a 
face whose noble lineaments did not betray his 
profession. He was the son of a wealthy citizen 
in Jericho, and had by riotous living spent his 
patrimony and joined Barabbas. He had heard 
Jesus preach in the wilderness of Jordan, and 
had once asked him, with deep interest, many 
things touching the doctrines he taught. John, 
who had seen him talking with Jesus, a few 
months before at Bethabara, now recognized 
him, and saw him regard the Prophet with rever- 
ential looks; and more than once heard the 
latter speak kind words to him as they climbed 
the hill. 

When the crucifiers, with their cords, baskets, 
nails, and iron hammer drew near him he said: 


418 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


I will not compel you to throw me down, I can 
die as I have lived, without fear! As Ihave broken 
the laws, I am ready to suffer the penalty of the 
laws.’’ 

Thus speaking, he stretched himself upon his 
cross, and extending his palms along the trans- 
verse beam he suffered them to nail him to the 
wood, uttering nota moan. He glanced toward 
Jesus at the same time with an expression of 
courage asif he sought to show him that the pain 
could be borne by a brave man. And perhaps 
indeed Jesus looked as if he needed a heroic 
example before him to show him how to die with- 
out shrinking, for his cheek was like the marble of 
Paros in its whiteness, and he seemed ready to 
drop to the earth from weakness. His youth— 
his almost Divine beauty, which not even his 
tangled hair, and torn beard, and blood-streaked 
countenance could wholly hide—the air of celes- 

‘tial innocence that beamed from his eyes, drew 
upon him many glances of sympathy, even from 
some of his foes. The Centurion, who was a tall 
man with a grizzly beard and with the hardy ex- 
terior of an old Roman warrior, looked upon him 
with a sad gaze and said: 

**T do not see what men would hate thee for, 
for thou seemest more to be a man to love; but I 
must do my duty, and I hope thou wilt forgive 
me whatIdo. A soldier’s honor is to obey.’’ 

Jesus smiled forgiveness upon him so sweetly 
that the stern Roman’s eyes filled with tears, and 
he placed his gauntleted hand to his face to con- 
ceal his emotion. 

‘‘Pilate would not do this crime were there 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID, ¥19 


another legion or two with him. It is the few- 
ness of his men-at-arms that compels him te 
please these howling Jews.’’ 

This was spoken to Jesus, who made no reply; 
for at this moment the crucifiers drew nigh to 
prepare him, by stripping, for the cross lying at 
his feet. 

But, my dear father, I can go on no further now 
with my narrative. Jam weary weeping at the 
sad recollections it calls before me and at our 
present affliction. In my next I will give you 
an account of the unhappy crucifixion of the 
Prophet of Nazareth and with him the crucifixion 
and death of all our hopes in him as Messias of 
God. 

Your affectionate daughter, 
ADINA. 


420 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


LETTER XXXYV. 


after the Crucifixion. 

My Dear Farner: It is now dawn, and I 
have arisen early, as I shall leave the city to-day 
with my Uncle Rabbi Amos and the whole fam- 
ily, to go to Bethany to escape the Jews, who 
are diligently seeking the arrest of all in Jeru- 
salem who were the followers of the slain Prophet. 
As an hour or two will elapse before all is ready 
for our safe departure, I will occupy the interval 
in completing my narrative of the crucifixion of 
Jesus; especially as Rabbi Amos, finding I have 
been so careful heretofore in recording all 
things concerning him, desires me not to omit 
any particulars, as my account may hereafter be 
convenient to refer to, and, perhaps, if neces- 
sary, be laid before Cesar, in defense of such as 
may be sent to Rome on charges of sedition. I 
feel that my poor letters, dear father, are only 
valuable to you, and those I love; butif they 
can aid in explaining anything for the exculpa- 
tion of the poor Nazarenes, who are now so de- 
spised and vigilantly hunted, they are at the 
service even of the mighty Tiberius himself. 
Their only merit is accuracy of detail and truth- 
fulness, so far as circumstances have enabled me 
to ascertain the truth. 


JERUSALEM, Third eet | 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 421 


As I now resume my pen, to continue the par- 
ticulars of the crucifixion of the unhappy son of 
Mary, wuo, widowed and childless, still remains 
with us, mourning over her slain son, my heart 
involuntarily shrinks from the painful subject 
and bleeds afresh. But there is a fascination 
associated with all that concerns him, even now 
that he is dead, and has proved himself as weak 
a mortal as other men, which urges me to write 
of him, and which fills my thoughts only with 
him. 

I have just alluded to his grief-smitten mother. 
Alas! there is no consolation for her. Her loss 
is not like that of other mothers. Her son has 
not only been taken from her by death, but has 
died ignominiously on a Roman cross, executed 
between two vile malefactors, as if he himself 
were the greatest criminal of the three; and not 
only this, but executed as a false prophet—as a 
deceiver of Israel—with a thousand glittering 
promises of Judea’s future glory through him, 
on his lips; which now, as his death proves, 
were vain promises, and that he made them to 
deceive his countrymen, for the temporary fame 
of drawing all menafter him. She thus mourns, 
not as other mothers, and refuses to be com- 
forted. 

Yet her love for her son—that deathless mater- 
nal love, which seems immortal in its nature, is 
not buried with him. She, with dearest Mary 
and Martha, have just gone out, secretly before 
the Jews are astir, to pay the last duties to his 
dead body, ere we depart for an asylum in Beth- 
any. They have taken spices, myrrh, and aloes, 


422 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


and sweet herbs, for the purpose of embalming 
the body; for his mother hopes to get permis- 
sion of Pilate to remove it some time to Bethle- 
hem, to be laid in the tomb of his fathers. 
Until they return from this sad mission of love, 
I will continue my subject. 

When the Centurion to whom was committed 
by Pilate the charge of conducting the crucifix- 
ion of Jesus gave orders to bind him also to the 
cross, which lay upon the ground like an altar 
awaiting its victim, the four Parthian soldiers, 
his brutal crucifiers, laid hold upon him and 
began to strip him of his garments, for his 
enemies had put on him his own clothes when 
they led him out of the hall of Pilate. He wore 
a mantle of spotless white, woven without seam, 
by Mary and Martha, and which had been a 
present to him, by the sisters, as a token of their 
gratitude for raising from the dead their brother 
Lazarus. 

When I saw them remove this robe, which was 
a visible attestation of his former power over 
death, I could not believe that he could be him- 
self killed; but would yet break away, by some 
mighty miracle, from his foes, and scattering 
them like dust before the wind, proclaim him- 
self, with power, the very Son of God! But 
when I perceived that he stood calmly and sor- 
rowfully, letting them do what they would, I lost 
all hope, and turned away weeping. His 
mother, supported by John, could no longer gaze 
upon her son, and was borne afar off, crying 
thrillingly: 

**Oh, let me not hear the crashing of the nails 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 423 


into his feet and hands! Myson—myson! Oh, 
that thou wouldest now prove to thy mother that 
thou art a true prophet!’’ 

‘“What means this wailing?’’ cried the fierce 
Abner; ‘‘who is the woman ?’’ 

‘““The mother of Jesus,’’ I answered indig- 
nantly. 

‘*The mother of the blasphemer. Let her be 
accursed!’’ he cried in a savage tone; ‘‘thou 
seest, woman, what is the end of bringing up an 
impostor to blaspheme Jehovah and the Temple. 
Thy hopes and his, O wretched woman, have this 
day miserably perished! So die all false Christs 
and false prophets! Thou seest, if he were the 
Christ, he would not stand there and be cruci- 
ned, like a common malefactor!’’ 

Mary buried her face in her hands, and wept 
on my shoulder. She felt that it was too true! 
I could not look toward the place where Jesus 
stood. I dreaded to hear the first blow upon the 
dreadful nails, and as she stopped her ears I 
would have closed mine also but that my hands 
supported her. I could hear the awful prepara- 
tions—the rattling of the hard cord, as they 
bound him to the cross, and the low, eager voices 
of the four busy Parthians; and then the rattling 
of the spikes; and then a silence like that of the 
grave! Suddenly a blow of a hammer broke the 
moment of suspense! <A shriek burst from the 
soul of his mother that echoed far and wide 
among the tombs of Golgotha! 

I could see—hear no more! John has told me 
the rest. Leaving the stricken mother with me, 
he and Lazarus drew near to where they were 


424 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


unrobing the Prophet, in order to bind him to 
the wood. They caught the eyes of their Master, 
who gazed upon them calmly and affectionately. 
They said they had never before beheld him 
appear so majestic and great! He looked, as the 
Centurion afterward said, ‘‘Like a god surren- 
dering himself to death, for the safety of his 
universe!’ 

Nothing but the ferocious madness of the chief 
priests and Jews could have prevented them 
from being awed by the majesty of his presence. 
And, besides, there sat upon his brow heroic 
courage, with a certain divine humility and 
resignation. Not the rough hands of the bar- 
baric soldiers, not the indignity of being stripped 
before the eyes of thousands, not the sight of his 
cross, nor of the thieves, nailed and writhing on 
theirs, moved him to depart, by look or bearing, 
from that celestial dignity which, through all, 
had never left him. 

He made no resistance when bound upon the 
cross, but resigned himself passively into the 
hands of his executioners, like a lamb receiving 
its death. ‘‘Father,’’ he said, raising his holy 
eyes to heaven, ‘‘forgive them, for they know 
not what they do.’’ But his heroic soul could 
not prevent the natural emotions of humanity at 
pain. The piercing nails, rending his tender 
flesh, made it quiver, and caused him to turn 
deadly pallid, while a deep sigh escaped his 
breast. Unlike the first robber, he did not re- 
sist; unlike the second, he did not steel himself 
to indifference; but he met his fate like a man 
who fears not death, yet does not brave 44! 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 425 


**Great drops of sweat, when they nailed his 
feet to the wood, stood upon his forehead,’’ said 
John, who remained near to see his Master die, 
and to comfort and strengthen him; ‘‘and when 
the four men raised him and the cross together 
from the earth, and let the end drop into a hole 
a foot deep, the shock, bringing his whole 
weight upon the nails in his hands, tore and 
lacerated them, nearly dislocating the shoulders 
at the same time, while every sinew and muscle 
of his arms and chest was drawn out like cords, 
to sustain this unwonted weight upon them. 
The first thief fainted from pain at the shock 
caused by the setting of his own cross; and the 
second, cool and defiant as he had been, uttered 
a loud outcry of agony. But Jesus made ne 
moan, though the unearthly pallor of his coun- 
tenance showed how inexpressible was _ his 
torture. 

Ah, my dear father, I would draw a veil over 
this scene—for it is too—too painful for me to 
dwell upon. To the last, John believed his 
Master would not die—that he could not suffer! 
But when he saw how that pain and anguish 
seized heavily upon him, and how that he 
suffered like other men, without power to pre- 
vent it, he greatly wondered, and began to be- 
lieve that all the miracles that he had seen him 
perform must have been illusions. He could not 
reconcile the calmness and dignity, the heroic 
composure and air of innocence, with which he 
came to the cross, with imposture; yet his death 
would assuredly seal as imposture all his pre- 
ylous career. 


426 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


The three crosses, that of Jesus in the midst, 
as the place of chief dishonor, being raised in 
the air, and fixed in the sockets of the rock, the 
Centurion commanded the adjacent space to be 
cleared, and that the malefactors be left to die. 
Oh, what a fearful death for Jesus! for him 
whom we knew so well, and whom we still loved, 
although he had deceived us. There, thought 
we, he might linger two or three days, dying 
slowly, as some have done, and exposed to the 
fierce sun by day, and the ebilly winds of night, 
while above them hovered on steady wings tke 
savage birds of prey, impatient for their feast. 

Much of the residue of the account I have 
from John, who remained at the last close to the 
cross, while we stood afar off, with his weeping 
mother, Mary of Bethany, Martha, Lazarus, and 
Mary, the mother of Salome, and other women, 
our friends from Galilee, who also had hope in 
Jesus. There we waited, in expectation of see- 
ing him do some mighty miracle from the cross, 
and descend unharmed, showing to the world, 
thereby, his title to be the Messias of God. 

The Centurion having placed a guard about 
the crosses to keep the friends of the crucified 
from attempting their rescue, stood watching 
them. The soldiers who had nailed Jesus to 
the tree began to divide, with noisy oaths, his 
garments among themselves, as well as those of 
the two thieves, these being, by the Roman law, 
the fee of the executioner. This division bemg 
made, after some time, but not without high 
talking, and drawing of their long Syrian kmives 
upon each other, they were at a loss what. to do 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 427 


with the large white mantle, without seam, which 
the sisters of Lazarus had woven for the friend 
of their once dead brother. A group of the 
Roman guard being seated near, astride upon 
the four arms of a fallen cross, playing at dice, 
suggested that the Parthians should decide by 
lot whose it should be. This the latter con- 
sented to, and taking the dice boxes in their 
bloody hands, each of them threw thrice. The 
highest number fell to the most ferocious of the 
four fellows, who, taking the mantle, wrapped it 
sbout his huge form, and, pacing up and down 
before the people, called, in a loud voice, him- 
self a great prophet, and asked, in his broken, 
parbarous tongue, some of the Jews if they 
would like to have him foretell their fortunes. 
At this they began to cry out upon him, and 
stone him as a blasphemer—and but for the 
interposition of the Centurion a tumult would 
have been made. The soldier then proposed to 
sell the cloak, which John joyfully purchased of 
him, by means of the jewels of several of the 
women, who gladly took rings from their ears, and 
bracelets from their arms, I giving dear father, the 
emerald which you bought for me at Cairo. But 
I could not see the robe which Jesus had worn 
thus desecrated; for still, oh, yes, still we loved 
him, even in his death, which death was his and 
our infamy! The mother of Jesus received the 
‘robe with deep emotions of gratitude to us all. 
But now, my dear father, how shall I describe 
the scenes and events that followed ? 

After Jesus had hung about an hour upon the 
cross, Aimilius came from Pilate and bore the 


428 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


inscription, which it is usual to place above the 
heads of malefactors, showing their name, and 
the crime for which they are crucified. Above 
the head of Ishmerai was written in Syriac: 


‘‘ISHMERAI, THE EpomiTs.’”’ 
‘A Rosper.”’ 


Above that of Omri was inscribed, also, on a 
leaf of parchment, in the same tongue, his name 
and the nature of his crime, which was that of 
robbery and bloodshedding. 

Above the head of Jesus, by means of a small 
ladder, was placed this inscription in Greek, 
Latin, and Hebrew: 


*‘THIS IS JESUS 
3 
‘Tap KiInG OF THE JEWS.’’ 


When the wicked Abner read this, he turned 
angrily to the Centurion, and to Aimilius, who 
stood sadly near the cross: 

‘“Write not, O Roman, that he is ‘King of the 
Jews,’ but that he said that he was King of the 
Jews!’ 

‘“‘T have placed above him what Pilate has 
ordered to be written,’’ answered the Centurion. 

Abner upon this mounted a mule, and hastened 
into the city to the Procurator, and laid his com- 
plaint before him. 

‘““What I have written, I have written, sir 
priest,’’ we have heard that the Procurator 
coldly answered. 

‘“‘But you, then, have crucified this man for 
being our king, which we deny!’’ retorted 
Abner. 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 429 


**T will take his word before that of all the 
Jews in Ceesar’s empire,’’ answered Pilate angrily. 
‘*He said he was king; and if ever aking stood 
before a human tribunal, I have had a true and 
very king before me to-day; and I have signed 
the warrant for his execution. But his blood be 
on your heads; for I was compelled to do this 
deed, or lose my Procuratorship; for else you 
would have had me before Cesar as a traitor. 
Leave my presence, Jew! Have I not, against 
my own convictions of justice and humanity, 
consented to gratify your thirst for this innocent 
person’s blood! What more do you demand? 
Is he not hanged? If you approach my presence 
more on this subject, by the gods of Rome, I 
will crucify you, and ten score more! I will 
pile a hecatomb to his manes!’’ 

Abner left his presence abashed, and returned 
to the hill of crucifixion. The Jews, in the 
meanwhile, mocked Jesus, and wagged their 
heads at him, and reminded him of his former 
miracles and prophecies. 

**Thou, that raisedst Lazarus save thyself from 
death!’’ said a Pharisee. 

‘If thou art the Son of God, prove it, by 
coming down from the cross!’’ cried the leader 
of the Sadducees, Eli. 

‘Thou, who saidst if a man kept thy sayings 
he should never see death—let us see if thou 
canst avoid death thyself!’ said Iddo, the chief 
of the Essenes. 

**He saved others—himself he cannot save!’’ 
mocked Ezekias, one of the chief priests. 

Aimilius, finding it impossible to save the 


430 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


Prophet from crucifixion, had come out to guard 
him from the usual insults of the rabble while 
he was dying. He had now lost faith in Jesus 
as a Prophet, but he loved him still as a man, 
and pitied him for his sufferings. He talked 
with him, and earnestly prayed him, as he hung, 
if he were indeed a god, to show his power. 
Jesus made no reply: but shortly, said in a faint 
voice: 

Pa thirst. 

The generous knight ran and filled a sponge 
with the preparation of sour wine and hyssop, 
usually given to malefactors, after they have 
suffered a while in order to stupefy them, and 
render them insensible to their sufferings. 
While Atmilius was affixing a sponge, dipped in 
this vessel of vinegar upon a reed split at the 
end to hold it firmly, Ishmerai, who all the 
while as he hung had uttered execrations upon 
his crucifiers, and upon Pilate, called, howling 
fiercely, to Jesus: 

‘*Tf thou be the Son of God, save thyself and 
us! If thou didst raise a man once from the 
dead, thou canst surely keep us from dying! 
Thou art a vile wretch if thou hast power asa 
prophet, and will not use it for me, when thou 
seest how heavy I am of body, and how my great 
weight tortures me with infernal racking and 
rending of every joint.”’ 

But Omri, rebuking his fellow said: 

‘““Dost thou not fear God, seeing thou art in 
the same condemnation. We suffer justly for 
our crimes, and to-day do receive the due reward 
of our transgressions; but this young man hath 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 431 


done nothing amiss save to preach against the 
wickedness of the priests, and for being holier 
than they. Lord, I believe that thou art the 
Son of God! None but the Christ could do the 
works thou hast done, or suffer patiently as thou 
art doing. Lord, remember me when thou 
comest into thy kingdom, for I know thou wilt 
go from this, thy cross, to thy throne, and there 
reign for ever and ever. I have listened to thy. 
teaching on the banks of Jordan, and now be- 
lieve.’’ 

Jesus turned his bleeding head toward him, 
and, with a smile of ineffable glory radiating his 
pale face said: 

‘‘Verily, I say unto thee, this day shalt thou 
be with me in Paradise.’’ 

Omri, upon this, looked inexpressibly happy, 
and seemed to rise superior to his sufferings. 
The other cursed the Prophet aloud, and gnashed 
at him with his teeth, with demoniacal hatred. 

At this moment, A‘milius came near with his 
dripping sponge, and presented the reed upward 
to the parched lips of the suffering Jesus. When 
he tasted it, he would not drink, for he perceived 
it was the opiate which was usually given in com- 
passion, to shorten the anguish of the crucified. 

The robber, Ishmerai, now eagerly cried for 
the sponge, and the prefect giving the reed to a 
soldier, the latter placed it to the mouth of the 
robber, whose swollen tongue protruded, and he 
drank of it with a sort of mad thirst. The other 
man, also, gladly assuaged his burning fever 
with it, and soon both of them sunk into insen- 
sibility, hanging unconscious of their situation, 


432 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


and showing no other signs of life that the heav- 
ings of their chests, and from time to time the 
involuntary twitching of the muscles. But Jesus 
retaining his senses in all their clearness, suf- 
fered all that such a fearful death imposes upon 
its victim. 

All at once, just as the sixth hour was sounded 
from the Temple by the trumpets of the Levites, 
a cloud which, formed by the smoke of the 
numerous sacrifices, had hung all day above the 
Temple, was seen to become suddenly of inky 
blackness, and to advance toward Calvary, 
spreading and expanding in the most appalling 
manner, as it approached us; and in a few min- 
utes not only all Jerusalem, but Calvary, the 
Valley of Kedron, the Mount of: Olives, and all 
the country were involved in its fearful darkness. 
The sun, which had before been shining with 
noon-day brillianecy, became black as sackcloth 
of hair, and a dreadful, unearthly, indescribable 
night overshadowed the world. Out of the cen- 
ter of the cloud, above the crosses, shot forth 
angry lightnings in every direction. But there 
was no thunder attending it—only a dead, sepul- 
chral, suffocating silence. 

Of the thousands who had been gazing upon 
the crucifixion, every one was now prostrate 
upon the earth interror! Jerusalem was blotted 
out from our view; only an angry spot of fire red 
light, as it were the terrible eye of God itself, 
was visible above the Temple, over the place of 
the Holy of Holies. The crosses soon were no 
longer visible, save by the fearful shine of the 
lightnings, flashing fiercely from the dread and 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 433 


silent cloud. The form of Jesus, amid the uni- 
versal gloom, shone as if divinely transfigured, 
and a soft halo of celestial light encircled his 
brow like a crown of glory; while the dark 
bodies of the two robbers could scarcely be dis- 
eerned, save by the faint radiance emanating 
from his own. 

The darkness continuing, many of the multi- 
tude at length ceased their moans, and the beat- 
ing of their breasts, and rending their garments, 
and arose to their feet; but moved not; for none 
could stir from his place, for the midnight depth 
of gloom. They talked to each other in whispers. 
An undefinable dread was uponeach mind. The 
sudden overspreading of the darkness was un- 
accountable as it was frightful. Mary, his 
mother, and Lazarus said, with awe, both speak- 
ing together: 

‘*This is his power. He has produced this 
miracle!’’ 

‘‘And we shall behold him next descend from 
the cross,’’ said Rabbi Amos. ‘‘Let us all take, 
courage; and let what dismays his enemies fill 
us with joyful expectation. ’”’ 

Three hours—three long and awful hours, this 
supernatural night continued; and all that while 
the vast multitude remained fixed, and waiting 
they knew not what. At length the cloud above 
the cross parted, with a loud peal of thunder, 
while a shower of terrible lightnings fell like 
jJances of fire, all around the hanging form of 
Jesus, which immediately lost its halo and its 
translucent radiance. His face, at the same time, 
became expressive of the most intense sorrow of 


434 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


soul, and he seemed to all eyes to be the cen- 
tral point of this fierce wrath of the heavens. 

A hundred voices exclaimed, with horror: 

*““See! he is deserted, and punished by the 
Almighty !’’ 

We ourselves were amazed and appalled. Our 
rising hopes were blasted by the livid light- 
nings, which seemed to blast him. His mother 
gave utterance toa groan of agony, and sank 
upon the ground, satisfied that her son was truly 
accursed of God. At this moment, as if to con- 
firm all our fears, he cried, in the Hebrew tongue, 
with a loud voice, that, in the deep silence, 
reached the ears even of the Roman guard on the 
citadel : 

**Eloi! Eloi! My God, my God, why hast 
Thou forsaken me!’’ 

Upon this some ran to give him wine and 
hyssop. 

‘‘Nay, let him live—let us see if Elias will save 
him!’’ answered Abner. 

Jesus then turned his head, and looked affec- 
tionately upon his mother, and committed her to 
the tender care of John, who stood supporting 
her near the cross. 

Suddenly the darkness, which had filled all the 
air, seemed now to concentrate and gather about 
the cross, so that he became invisible. From 
the midst of it his thrilling voice was once more 
heard, as clear and strong as it rang over the 
waters of Galilee, when he preached from a boat 
to the thousands thronging the shore: 

‘Iris Fintsuep! Father, into thy hands I 
commend my spirit!’’ 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 435 


As he uttered these words, a supernatural 
glory shone around him, and, with a deep sigh, 
he bowed his head upon his breast. and gave up 
the ghost. 

The general exclamation of surprise that. fol- 
lowed these clear, trumpet-tones, was suddenly 
checked by a terrible trembling of the earth be- 
neath our feet, so that vast numbers. of people 
were cast down; the rocks of the hill of Calvary 
were rent and thrown upward, while the whole 
city shook with the convulsive throes of am earth- 
quake. The Temple seemed on fire, and above 
its pinnacle appeared a flaming sword, which 
seemed to us to cleave the walls to their founda- 
tions; and while we looked, the swora changed 
into the shape of a cross of dazzling light, stand- 
ing high in the air over the altar; and from its 
golden beams poured rays so bright that all 
Jerusalem and the hill country for a wide ex- 
tent became as light as noonday. The ground 
still continued to rock, and the sepulchers of the 
kings, with the tombs of ancient prophets, were 
riven by vast chasms, and the green earth was 
strewn with the bones and bodies of the dead. 
The dark cloud, which had begun to form first 
with the smoke of the Temple, was now dissipated 
by the light of the fiery cross, and the sun reap- 
peared. Before it the glorious vision over the 
Temple gradually faded out and disappeared. 
The natural order of things gradually returned; 
and men, smiting their breasts, began to move 
toward the city, filled with awe and dread at 
what they had witnessed. The Centurion, who 
stood watching these fearful things, said aloud 
to Admilius: 


436 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


‘‘This man spake the truth. He was a God!’” 
‘“Truly,’’ responded Aimilius, ‘‘this was none 
other than the Son of God—the very Christ of 
the Jewish Prophets. All things in the air and 
on the earth sympathize with his death, as if he 
were the very God of nature who has expired.’ 
Sad and weeping, we left the dismal scene, 
hanging our heads in despondency, having, while 
wondering at these mighty events associated 
with his crucifixion, abandoned forever all hope 
that this was He who should have redeemed our 
nation, and restored the royal splendor of Judah, 
the throne of the house of David. 
Iam, my dear father, your loving daughter, 
ADINA. 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 437 


LETTER XXXVI. 


JERUSALEM, Third Morning 
after the Crucifixion. 


My Dearest Fatuer: I closed the last letter 
but to resume in another the sad narrative which 
I have been writing to you. It is now half an 
hour to sunrise, and as the party who went to 
the sepulcher have not yet returned, I will still 
continue my painfully interesting subject. The 
mother of Jesus, who 1 thought went with the 
two Marys and Martha, remained at home un- 
able to bear the sight of her dead son. 

On the day on which the wonderful events 
took place which I have detailed at large in my 
last letter, that day which can never, for its signs 
and wonders be forgotten in Jerusalem, the chief 
priests, at the head of whom was Abijah, met 
Pilate as he was riding forth from the city, at- 
tended by a score of men at arms, to survey the 
deep rents made by the earthquake, and to hear 
from the mouths of all the people the particulars 
of the marvels which attended the crucifixion of 
Jesus. When they came near him they be- 
sought him that he would command his soldiers 
to take down the bodies, as the next day was a 
high-day, and that it was contrary to their cus- 
toms to have criminals executed or left hanging 
on that day. 


438 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


‘“What think ye?’’ demanded Pilate, reining 
up and soothing his Syrian war-horse, which, 
startled at the dead bodies that lay near (for they 
were crossing the place of open tombs), had for 
some time tramped and plunged madly: ‘‘ What 
think ye, priests! Have youcrucified a common 
man! ora God? We think these mighty won- 
ders tell us that he was more than a man! All 
nature sympathizes with his death! The sun 
veiled his brightness, the heavens clad them- 
selves in mourning, the gods sent forth angry 
lightnings; and the earth herself heaved and 
rocked as if sharing the universal woe!”’ 

The priests looked troubled, and seemed uwun- 
able to answer: but Tereh, the chief priest of 
the house of Mariah, answered, and said: 

‘*My lord, these were wonderful phenomena, 
but they would have happened if this Nazarene 
had not died! Here is a famous astrologer from 
Arabia who studies the skies, who says that the 
darkness was caused by an eclipse of the sun, and 
the dark cloud was but the smoke of the sacri- 
fices, and the earthquake was but a natural and 
usual occurrence!”’ 

‘‘Stay, sir priest,’’ answered Pilate: ‘‘we at 
Rome, though called barbarians by you polished 
Jews, have some scholarship in astrology. We 
know well that an eclipse of the sun can take 
place only when the moon is new! It is to-day, 
on this thy feast day, at its full, and will to- 
night rise opposite the sun! It was no eclipse, 
sir priest, and thy Arabian is a false astrologer. 
These events occurred because that man, your 
king, has been executed.’’ 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 439 


‘“Why not for the two robbers as well?’ de- 
manded Abner, with an incredulous sneer on. his 
lip. 

Pilate made no reply, and was riding on, when 
Tereh, in behalf of the chief priests, asked. per- 
mission to have the bodies of the crucified re- 
moved from the crosses and buried. 

‘*He cannot be yet dead, since it is only seven 
hours since he was nailed to the ecross,’’ said 
Pilate; ‘‘I will see for myself. ’’ 

Thus speaking, the Roman Procurator spurred 
on toward the top of the hill, followed by his 
bodyguard; now avoiding an open grave, now 
leaping one of the freshly opened chasms, now 
turning aside from some body cast up by the 
earthquake. When he came in front of the 
crosses: he saw that Jesus hung as if dead, while 
the thieves still breathed, and from time to time 
heaved groans of anguish, although partly insen- 
sible from the effects. of the opiate which had 
been administered to them. 

“Think you, Romulus, that he has any life in 
him?’’ asked Pilate, in a subdued tone of voice, 
gazing sorrowiully, and with looks of self- 
reproach, upon the drooping form of his victim. . 

‘‘Heis dead am hour ago,’’ answered the Cen- 
turion. ‘‘He expired when the earthquake shook 
the city, and the fiaming sword was unsheathed 
in the air above the Temple! It was a fearful 
sight, sir, and the more wonderful to see it 
change in the shape of across of fire. I fear, 
_ sir, we have crucified one of the Gods in the 
shape of a man.’’ 

“It would appear so, Centurion,’ 


> 


answered 


440 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


Pilate, shaking his head. ‘‘I1 would it had not 
been done! But ’tis past! The Jews desire: 
their bodies to be removed before their great. 
Sabbath. Cesar’s orders are that they shall be 
humored always in all things touching their reli- 
gion which do not militate against the Imperial 
laws. Let them have their desire. The robbers. 
are not yet dead!’’ 

‘Nearly so. Iwill break their legs and re— 
move their bodies, your excellency,’’ answered 
the Centurion. 

Pilate then turned his horse and rode slowly 
and sadly away from the spot. Romulus then gave. 
orders to his soldiers to remove the bodies. One 
of them with a battle-ax approached the robher 
Omri, and at two blows broke his knees. With 
a shudder that shook the cross, he ceased to 
move. The first blow upon the limbs of Ish— 
merai caused him to open his eyes and to growl 
a half-intelligible execration; but at the second 
stroke his huge head fell upon his hairy chest, 
and muttering a curse upon his executioners, he 
the next moment hung there dead! When the: 
soldiers came to Jesus they saw that he was 
already dead. He seemed like a Phidian statue 
of the whitest marble of Paros. His polished 
limbs were shaped with celestial symmetry; his: 
golden hair was tossed by the evening breeze 
about his brow and shoulders; his divine aspect: 
death could not mar; and the contrast he pre— 
sented to the rough forms of the two malefactorss 
between whom he hung struck even the rude 
soldiers. 

‘Let us not break his legs,’’ said one to the 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 44} 


other, ‘“‘it were sacrilege to mar such a manly 
form.’’ 

*“Yet, we must insure his death ere he be 
taken away,’’ responded the other. ‘‘I will pierce 
him to make sure!’’ 

Thus speaking, he directed his spear to the 
side of Jesus, and cleaved the flesh to his heart. 
John, who stood near, and saw and heard all, 
upon seeing this done bowed his head to the 
earth in total abandonment of hope! Until that 
moment he had believed that Jesus would revive 
and descend from the cross; for to the last all 
our faith in his power to save himself was firm, 
though greatly tried when we saw him in the 
hands of the Roman soldiers. Even when we 
beheld him nailed to the cross we did not give 
up hope, for we had all seen him raise Lazarus 
dead, and felt that he could free himself from 
the cross alive also. And, although after the 
earthquake, we left the hill and returned, sorrow- 
ing and smiting our hearts, into the city, we 
often lingered and looked-back to where he 
hung, expecting to see him descend from it, and 
proclaim himself, by such a mighty miracle, the 
Son of God. John, first having delivered the 
mother of Jesus to our care, and many of the 
women and others who had loved and followed 
him, remained long watching him, and expect- 
ing some great event. 

But when the unhappy disciple saw the Roman 
spear pierce his side, his own heart seemed to be 
pierced also. Hope perished forever! Jesus 
was dead—dead, and thus proved a deceiver. 
Yet his emotions were not of anger, but of sor- 
row; for he greatly loved him. 


442 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


When he raised his head to gaze upon his 
crucified Master, he saw flowing from the rent in 
his side two fountains together, one of crimson 
blood, the other of crystal water. He could not 
believe what he saw until the soldiers. and the 
Centurion also saw it, and expressed aloud their 
wonder at such a marvel. 

‘““Never was such a mam crucified before,’’ ex- 
claimed the Centurion. ‘“‘He is. without doubt 
one of the immortal Gods, and therefore have 
the heavens and earth been moved with amaze- 
ment at the deed!’’ 

When John saw that Jesus was: indeed dead, 
and all hope of his restoration to life was. de- 
stroyed, he drew near, and asked permission of 
the Centurion to be allowed to have the body; 
for he had promised the mourning mother of the 
dead son that he would recover it, if possible, 
for sacred burial. But the Centurion, though a 
kind and generous man, answered that he could 
deliver the body to no one. without an order 
signed by the Procurator’s.own hand. 

Upon this, John, after getting the promise of 
the Centurion that the body should not be taken 
down until his return, ran rapidly toward the 
city to. ask the consent of Pilate. But in the 
yacanwhile, Rabbi Joseph, the counsellor of 
Arimathea, whom, my dear father, you have, 
many years ago, well known to be a man of 
probity and honor, and who stands: high in favor 
with Pilate, met him as. he was.skirting the wall 
of the city with his cohort, and asked him if, 
when Jesus: should be pronounced to. be dead, he 
might take down the body and give it sepulture.. 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 443 


Pilate did not hesitate to give his ready consent 
to this request, and taking from his purse a small 
signet engraved with his cipher, he placed it in 
the hands of the rich Rabbi. 

‘‘Go and receive the body of this wonderful 
man,’ he said. ‘‘Methinks thou art one who 
knew him well. What thinkest thou of him, 
Rabbi??? Joseph perceived that Pilate asked 
the question with deep interest, and seemed very 
greatly troubled in mind, and he answered him 
boldly : : 

‘‘I believe that he was a Prophet sent from 
God, your excellency, and that to-day has died 
on Calvary the most virtuous, the wisest, and 
the most innocent man in Ceesar’s empire. ’’ 

**My conscience echoes your words,’’ answered 
Pilate gloomily; and putting spurs to his horse 
he galloped forward in the direction of the Geth- 
semane Gardens. 

John therefore did not see Pilate, and on re- 
turning from the city, weary and disappointed, 
he met the ruler Nicodemus, who, attended by 
one of his Gibeonite slaves, was hastening into 
town to purchase spices and linen to wrap the 
body in, as our manner is to bury. From him 
John learned with great joy, how that Rabbi 
Joseph had seen Pilate, and obtained from him 
permission to take down and remove the body. 

When John reached the cross he found that 
Joseph, by the aid of Lazarus, Simon Peter, 
Mary, Martha, and Rabbi Amos, had taken it 
out of the socket in the rock, with its precious 
burden, and gently laid it upon the ground with 
the body still extended upon it. With many 


wt PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


tears and amentations they drew forth the cop- 
per spikes from the torn hands and bleeding feet, 
and with water from the brook Kedron, washed 
the enmarbling blood away, and wrapped the 
alabaster limbs in the spices and white linen 
which Nicodemus presently arrived with. 

The bodies of the robbers in the meanwhile 
were taken, or rather torn down by the soldiers, 
and cast together into one of the yawning chasms 
rent by the earthquake, and covered by frag- 
ments of stone, which the soldiers, assisted by 
some of the baser Jews who still lingered about 
the place, cast down upon them. 

In the still, holy twilight of that dread day, 
the west all shadowy gold and mellow light, the 
air asleep, and a sacred silence reigning in 
heaven and on earth, they bore away from the hill 
of death the body of the dead Prophet. The 
shoulders of Nicodemus, of Peter, of Lazarus, 
and of John, gently sustained the loving weight 
of Him they once honored above all men, and 
whom, though proved by his death to have 
fatally deceived himself as to his Divine mission 
as the Christ, yet they still loved for his sorrow 
so patiently borne, for his virtues so vividly 
remembered. 

Slowly the little group wound their way down 
the rocky sides of Golgotha, the last to leave 
that fearful place inthe coming darkness. Their 
measured tread, their low whispers, the subdued 
wail of the women who followed the rude bier of 
branches, the lonely path they trod, all com- 
bined to render the spectacle one of touching 
solemnity. On reaching the valley between the 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 445 


hill and the city, the shades of evening were 
gathering thick around them. They took secret 
ways for fear of the Jews. But some that met 
them turned aside with awe when they knew 
what dead corpse was borne along; for the im- 
pression of the appalling scenes of the day had 
not yet wholly passed away from their minds. 
At length they reached a gate in the wall of the 
garden attached to the noble abode of the wealthy 
Rabbi Joseph, who went before, and with a key 
unlocked it, and admitted them into the secluded 
inclosure. Here the thickness of the foliage of 
olive and fig tress created complete darkness; 
for by this time the evening star was burning 
like a lamp in the roseate west. They rested the 
bier upon the pavement beneath the arch, and 
awaited in silence and darkness the appearance 
of torches, which Rabbi Joseph had sent for to 
his house. The servants bearing them were 
soon seen advancing, the flickering light from 
the flambeaux giving all things visible by it a 
wild aspect in keeping with the hour. 

*“Follow me,’’ said Joseph, in a low voice, 
that was full charged with great sorrow, as the 
servants preceded him with their torches. 

The sad bearers of the dead body of Jesus 
raised their sacred burden from the ground and 
trod onward, their measured footfalls echoing 
among the aisles of the garden. At its further 
extremity, where the rock of Moriah hangs bee- 
tling over the valley, and forms at this place the 
east wail of the garden, was a shallow flight of 
stone steps leading toa new tomb hewn out of 
the rock. It had been constructed for the Rabbi 


446 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


himself, and had just been completed, and in it 
no man had ever been laid. 

The torches flashed brightly upon its massive 
doo1 and upon. a dark cypress tree, the branches 
of which drooped in majestic gloom around it. 
It seemed the very temple and shrine of death, 
so secluded—so solemn—so funereal was. all! 

The servants, by command of Joseph, rolled 
back the stone, and exposed the dark vault of 
the gaping sepulcher. 

‘‘How is it, most worthy Rabbi,’’ said a 
Roman Centurion, suddenly apprising them of 
his presence by his voice, ‘‘that you bury thus 
with honor a man who has proved himself unable 
to keep the dazzling promises he has allured so 
many of you with?’’ 

All present turned with surprise at seeing not 
only the Centurion, but half a score of men at 
arms. on whose helmets and cuirasses the torches 
brightly gleamed, marching across the grass 
toward the spot. 

‘“What means this intrusion, Roman?’’ asked 
Rabbi Joseph. 

*‘T am sent, hither by command of the Procura- 
tor,’’ answered the Centurion; ‘‘the chief Jews 
have had an interview with him, informing him 
that the man whom he had crucified had foretold 
that after three days he would rise again. They 
therefore asked a guard to be given them to 
place over the sepuleher till the third day, lest 
his disciples secretly withdraw the body, and 
report that their master is risen. Pilate, there- 
fore, has commanded me to keep watch to-night 
with my men.’”’ . 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 44% 


While the Centurion was speaking, several of 
the priests whom Joseph knew drew near, bear- 
ing torches; and also a company of women and 
relatives of Joseph and Mary, who had heard 
where they were entombing the body, came to 
see the place wherein he was laid. 

“We bury him with this deference and re- 
spect, Centurion,’’ answered Rabbi Joseph, ““be- 
cause we believe him to have been deceived, not 
a deceiver. He was gifted by God with vast 
power, and therefore doubtless believed he could 
do all things. He was too holy, wise, and good 
to deceive. He has fallen a victim to his own 
wishes for the weal of Israel, which were impos- 
sible by man to be realized. We do this honor 
to the memory of one whom to know was to love, 
even though we are disappointed in seeing him 
establish the kingdom in Judah.’”’ 

The body of Jesus, wrapped in its shroud of 
spotless linen, and surrounded by the preserving 
spices of Arabia, was then borne into the tomb, 
and laid upon the table of stone which Joseph 
had prepared for his own last resting-place. By 
the light of the torches all present took a last 
look of the body, even the women of Galilee, 
also, and ere they closed the tomb, Mary of 
Bethany, her sister Martha, and Lazarus, also 
appeared, to gaze a tearful farewell upon the 
immovable features of the dead Prophet, for a 
Prophet since the remarkable phenomena attend- 
ing his death, we are all now assured he must 
have been; and that we have misunderstood, 
from their divine depth, many of his sayings 
and prophecies concerning himself. Simon 


448 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


Peter was the last to quit the side of the body, 
by which he knelt as if he would never leave it, 
and shedding all the while great tears of bitter 
grief. John only at last drawing him gently 
forth, enabled the Centurion and soldiers to close 
the heavy door of the tomb. Having secured it 
evenly by revolving it in its sockets, he placed a 
mass of wax melted by a torch upon each side of 
it over the crevices, and stamped each with the 
signet of the Procurator, which to break is death. 

The Jews which were present, seeing that the 
sepulcher was thus made sure by the sealing of 
the stone, and by the presence of the vigilant 
Roman guard of eighteen men, took their depar- 
ture. Rabbi Joseph Nicodemus, and the rest of 
the friends of Jesus, then slowly retired, leaving: 
a sentinel pacing to and fro before the tomb, and 
others grouped about beneath the trees or on the 
steps of the sepulcher, playing at their favorite 
game of dice or gazing upon the broad moon and 
singing their native Italian airs; yet with their 
arms at hand ready to spring to their feet at the 
least alarm or word of alert. The tall, mailed 
figure of the Centurion standing motionless, 
leaning upon the hilt of his long, straight sword, 
in a meditative attitude above the tomb, was at 
length shut out from the view of the retiring 
disciples, by the angle in the path which turned 
in the direction of the gate. [Something fearful 
must this instant have happened; for the house 
has just shaken as if with an earthquake. What 
can be the meaning of these wonders?] Such, 
my dear father, is the history of the arrest, trial, 
judgment, crucifixion, death, and burial of the 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 449 


mighty Nazarene Prophet. I have been thus 
particular, not only to enable you to see, as if 
you had been present at all that passed, but also 
at the request of my uncle, Rabbi Amos, and to 
give vent to my own fullness of emotion. It 
was also due to myself who have believed in him 
so firmly, to show that, although he was cruci- 
fied and is dead, the extraordinary events which 
accompanied his crucifixion attested that he was 
more than a man, if not the true Messias; and 
that, therefore, there is excuse not only for me, 
for being his disciple, but for all others who fol- 
lowed him. You can also perceive, my dear 
father, from the honorable manner in which he 
was buried by the eminent councilor, Rabbi 
Joseph, of Arimathea, that he was deemed by 
him innocent of any crime worthy of such a 
death; and that he believed him to have been 
deceived, rather than a deceiver. 

It is this view of his character, combined with 
his patience, his dignity, his forbearance, his air 
of divine innocence on his trial, which makes us 
all still think and talk of him with tenderness 
and tears. All that remains to us of him is his 
body, and to this we have paid the homage of 
our reverential affection. 

This morning Mary and Martha, with others, 
have gone to visit his tomb in Joseph’s garden, 
(as I have already said) for the purpose of em- 
balming it; and on their return we are to go to 
Bethany for a few days until the violent hostility 
of the Jews to his followers subsides. The Pro- 
curator is daily looking for four legions of Roman 
soldiers from Syria as a reinforcement, when he 


450 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


will be able to protect us, and maintain complete- 
ly the supremacy of the Roman power. Oh, that 
these forces were here on the day of the crucifix- 
ion, for then, says Rabbi Amos, Pilate, conscious 
of military strength, would have acted freely, 
and saved Jesus from their hands. 

I hear now the voices of Mary and Martha, in 
the court of the street returning from the tomb. 
They are pitched to a wild note of joy! What 
can mean the commotion—the exclamations—the 
running and shouting all through the corridors 
and court! I must close and fly to learn what 
new wonder has occurred. 

In haste, your affectionate daughter, 
ADINA. 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 45] 


LETTER XXXVII 


JERUSALEM, 
First day of the Week. } 

Farner, My Dear Faruer: How shall I make 
known to you in words the marvelous, joyous, 
happy, happy, and most wonderful news which 
I have to tell! My heart beats, my hand trem- 
bles with rapture, while a sense of profound awe 
impresses all my soul. Jesus 7s alive! Jesus 
has RISEN FROM THE DEAD! Jesus has proved him- 
self to be the Son of God! Oh, now we know 
that Jesus is, indeed, the Messias who should 
come! Oh, that I could have doubted! Alas! 
that I should have written to you such words of 
disbelief and of doubt, and have thought him in 
my heart a deceiver! But I have seen him, and 
he has forgiven me! None of us understood his 
words, which he spake t. us before his crucifix- 
ion concerning his death, and hence all our con- 
sternation and despair. But now we clearly 
perceive the meaning of all, and are amazed at 
our dullness and disbel ef. His death, to our 
benighted apprehensions seemed the seal to a 
life of faleshood: the p oof that he was a false 
prophet, rather than, as we now know it to be, 
a proof of his being t] e Son of God, by his 
resurrection from the de.id! 

I can scarcely hold: ay pen for joy and won- 


452 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


der, or collect my thoughts for very amazement 
at what has transpired. But I will try and 
calm my emotions, in order, my dear father, to 
make known to you the mighty events which 
have come to pass to-day. 

My last letter to you abruptly closed, as I was 
interrupted by loud exclamations of gladness, 
and great confusion of running and calling in 
the courts and corridors below. Upon hearing 
my name called by Mary and others in eager, 
joy-trembling tones, [hastened to go down. On 
reaching the staircase I met my cousin Mary 
ascending, almost flying. Wonder, love, and 
happiness inexpressible beamed from her beau- 
tiful countenance. Meeting me, she threw her 
arms about my neck, and essayed to utter some- 
thing, but her heart was too full, and bursting 
into sobs, she wept convulsively upon my bosom 
in an ecstasy of delirious joy. 

Amazed and confounded, not knowing what 
had happened, I held her to my heart and tried 
to soothe her emotion. The voice of Martha 
now reached my ears from the foot of the stairs 
talking rapidlv to Rabbi Amos, who answered 
with loud exclamations: 

‘“*What—what hath happened? Speak, dear 
Mary!’’ I asked, unable to wait longer in sus- 
pense. 

She raised her head, and through her tears 
and smiles at length said brokenly: 

‘*‘ He—He—is—risen—oh, He is risen from the 
tomb!”’ 

‘“Who?’’ I cried, half-believing, yet doubting. 

‘““The Lord! Our Mighty Master-—Jesus—the 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 453 


very Son of God, the Blessed! He is alive, 
Adina—alive and well!’’ 

‘*You have seen a vision, or your grief at his 
death Mary, has shaken your reason,’’ I answered 
her. 

Upon this she released herself from my arm, 
and fixing upon me her large, earnest eyes, said: 

‘Adina, be not faithless, but believing. Jesus 
is risenfrom the dead. He is alive, and walking! 
I have seen Him—he has spoken to Mary of 
Bethany, Lazarus’ sister, and also to me! Oh, 
joy, joy. Heis the very Son of the Highest, 
and we have not been deceived; but we have 
been blind, and deaf, and ignorant, not to have 
understood that he must die, and rise again the 
third day! Come—delay not! Ihave flown into 
the city to tell thee; and Mary has told Peter 
and John, whom she met at the door, and who, 
doubting, as thou hast done, yet have run to see 
if these things be so. They will find the sepul- 
cher empty. Haste thee to go with us!’’ 

Whiie overwhelmed with wonder, and trem- 
bling with joy, I was preparing to accompany 
her, Martha appeared, her face radiant with 
celestial happiness: 

‘*You have heard the tidings of great joy, O 
Adina!’’ 

**Can they be true, Martha?’ I asked, 
earnestly? 

**Yes, for I have seen him walking, heard his 
voice, and touched him! You, also, shall see 
him, for he hath sent us to tell his disciples. ’’ 

At the gateway we met Mary of Bethany, who 
had been telling John and Peter the news, and 


404 PRINCE Or THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


had also made it known to Rabbi Amos and 
Nicodemus. They were talking together in the 
court, upon the crucifixion, when she burst in 
upon them with the cries I had heard—‘‘ He is 
risen— He is risen!’’ 

We three now hastened together toward the 
garden of Joseph, I wishing my feet wings, that 
I might reach the sepulcher sooner, fearing that 
the vision of Jesus would be vanished ere I 
arrived. As we were going out of the gate, we 
were met by four or five Roman soldiers, who, 
with aspects stamped with fear, were running 
past us into the city. 

‘‘What means this flight and terror, men?’’ 
cried the captain of the gate. ‘‘You fly asif you 
were in full retreat from an enemy. Speak, 
Marius, you seem to have your senses!’’ he de- 
manded, of the youngest of the soldiers. 

We paused to hear what he said. 

‘*Per Dian, captain—we have been terrified be- 
yond measure,’’ answered the soldier. ‘‘My 
heart beats yet, as if it were an alarum-drum. 
You see, we were a part of the guard left in 
charge of the sepulcher of this Jewish Prophet, 
crucified three days ago. Before dawn this 
morning, as I was pacing to and fro before the 
tomb, and my comrades were reclining about at 
ease, and while I was idly gazing at the morning 
star, fading into the dawn, there suddenly shone 
round about usa light, like a descending meteor, 
accompanied by a rushing, like a legion of 
wings. The men started to their feet in ame~7- 
ment! On looking about usI saw a dazz’ ng 
form, in the midheavens, with broad wing of 


' PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 455 


gold, sparkling with myriads of stars, every 
feather a star, and clad in raiment white and 
gleaming as the summer’s lightning. This ter- 
rible presence, like that of one of the Dii Im- 
mortales, made us fear exceedingly, beyond any 
terror we had before experienced. But when we 
saw this mighty being descend straight toward 
the tomb, and beheld the resplendent majesty of 
his celestial visage, which blinded us, our hearts 
failed within us. The angel, or god, alighted 
amid a blaze of radiance at the door of the sepul- 
cher; and as his foot touched the earth, it trem- 
bled, as if witha great earthquake. The soldiers 
shook with terror. and fell to the ground, before 
his presence, as dead men. I stood, unable to 
move, frozen by fear to a statue. He touched 
the great stone door with one of his fingers, and 
it rolled outward at his feet, as if a catapult had 
struck it, and like a Jove taking his throne, he 
sat upon it! 

‘*But one thing more,’’ continued the soldier, 
‘‘was wanting to fill my cup of terror to the full. 
And it followed. I saw the crucified Prophet 
rise up from the slab on which he was laid, and 
stand upon his feet, and walk forth alive, with 
the tread of some mighty conqueror! ‘The celes- 
tial being, so terrible in his majestic splendor, 
veiled his face with his wings before his pres- 
ence, and prostrated himself at his feet as if in 
homage to one greater than himself! 

*‘I saw no more, but fell, insensible with ter- 
ror, to the earth. When at length I came to my- 
self, the tomb was filled with dazzling forms of 
resplendent beauty; the air rung with music, 


456 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


such as mortals ‘never before heard; and I fied, 
pursued by my fears, the rest of the soldiers 
rising and following me, each man fearing to 
look back. ’’ 

‘‘This is indeed marvelous,’’ answered the cap- 
tain of the gate; ‘‘I saw the light and felt the 
tremor of the earth; but I thought it wasa thun- 
derbolt which had struck the ground near the 
hill of Calvary. Go, let the Prefect Aimilius, or 
Pilate himself, know what has happened.’”’ 

The soldiers hurried forward into the city; 
while, confirmed now in the certainty that Jesus 
was risen, I hastened, with Martha and Mary, in 
the direction of the garden. 

‘‘Thou believest now, Adina,’’ said Mary of 
Bethany, to me, as we flew along. 

‘*Yes—only let me behold him face to face, 
and I shall then be willing, at that hour, to meet 
death. How did the risen Lord look, Mary?’’ I 
asked. 

‘““There was the same benign and holy expres- 
sion—the same divine majesty, the same loving 
words, and celestial dignity.’’ 

‘*How and where did you behold him, Mary ?”’ 
I interrogated, as we drew near to the steep path 
leading to the gate of Joseph’s garden. 

‘“When we reached the tomb, with our spices 
and precious ointments, to embalm the body, we 
found it open, and the soldiers, who had guarded 
it, lying about upon the ground like dead men. 
Upon the stone sat the archangel, but the re- 
splendent light of his apparel and countenance 
were so tempered to our eyes that, although we 
believed that it was an angel, we were not terri- 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 457 


fied, for his looks were kind, and the aspect of his 
face divinely beautiful, combined with a terrible 
’ and indescriaable majesty. We shook with fear, 
and stood still, unable to move, gazing on him 
in silent expectation. 

‘* *Fear not, ye,’ he said, ina voice that seemed 
to fill the air about us with undulating music, 
‘fear not, daughters of Abraham. I know that 
ye seek Jesus, which was crucified! He is not 
here, but is risen, as he foretold. Lo! see the 
place where the Lord of Life and Conqueror of 
Death hath lain!’ 

We then timidly approached and looked in, and 
saw the sepulcher empty; but a soft hght filled 
the whole place. 

** “Go and tell his disciples that the Lord is 
risen,’ added the angel; ‘and that he will go 
before them into Galilee. There shall they see 
him not many days hence!’ 

**When the angel had thus spoken to us,’’ con- 
tinued Mary, ‘‘we departed quickly from the 
sepulcher with fear and great joy, and ran to go 
into the city, to bring his disciples word, accord- 
ing to the command of the angel. But I had not 
advanced so far as the gate of the garden, being 
behind the rest, when I beheld Jesus himself 
standing in my path. I stopped, between terror 
and joy. 

** “All hail! daughter of Israel,’ he said. ‘Be 
not afraid. Iam living, that was dead! It was 
needful that I should die, and rise again, that I 
might raise up from the dead all who die in me, 
to life immortal. Go, Mary, and tell my mother 
and my brethren, and Peter, and John, and 


458 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


Lazarus that I am risen, and that I have spoken 
with you. Behold my wounded hands, that it is 
I myself! Be not afraid! I am the resurrection 
and the life!’ 

“‘T then cast myself at his feet and worshiped 
him; and when I looked up, he was gone. 

‘‘The others did not see him. We now con- 
tinued on to the city, as if we had wings; yet, 
rapidly as we went, some of the same Roman 
watch whom we met coming in just now passed 
us, in their flight and alarm; for they fled at 
first in different parties, different ways. But 
see! we are now at the gate of the garden,’’ 
added Mary of Bethany, in alow tone of awe. 
‘He must be near us.’’ 

But we approached the tomb without seeing 
any man, having arrived before Peter and John, 
who had been delayed some time at the Jaffa 
gate, which route they took, as being nighest; 
but it was not opened when they reached it, and 
they were detained. We, therefore, found no 
one at the sepulcher. It was open, and empty. 
The stone in front, on which the archangel sat, 
was vacant. As we drew near, a bright light 
suddenly shone out from the tomb; and upon 
going nigher I beheld two angels clothed in 
white robes, and with countenances of divine 
radiance, seated, one at the head, and the other 
at the foot of the slab of marble, on which the 
body of Jesus had lain. At the sight of these 
noble and beautiful beings, which we knew were 
sons of God, come down from heaven, we were 
affrighted. Isank upon the stone which had been 
rolled away, and remained without power of 
motion. 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 459 


**Be not afraid, daughters of Jerusalem,’’ said 
one of the angels, speaking to us in the Hebrew 
tongue; ‘‘He whom ye seek liveth—and dieth 
no more! He is risen from the tomb, which 
could not hold him but through his consent; for 
Jesus is Lord of Life, and Victor over Death and 
Hell, for evermore! Go your way, and tell his 
disciples that he awaits them at Narazeth, at the 
house of Mary, his mother, by the seaside.’”’ 

_ ‘The angels then vanished from our sight; and 

at the same moment John and Peter came run- 
ning, and seeing the stone rolled away, John 
stooped down and looked in, and said that he 
saw the linen clothes in which the body of Jesus 
had been wrapped, lying folded together, and 
also the napkin which had been bound about his 
head. Peter now coming up,: breathless with 
eagerness and haste, no sooner saw the tomb 
open than he went boldly in and carefully ex- 
amined all for himself. He then called to John, 
who also went in, and both were convinced that 
their Lord had indeed risen from the dead; and 
when we made known to them what the angels 
had said to us, that Jesus would go before, and 
meet them in Galilee, they rejoiced greatly, and 
shortly afterward departed, to hasten into Gali- 
lee, no longer doubting, but believing. I also 
returned with them, to convey the news to Mary, 
the mother of Jesus, who had not left the house, 
and scarcely her bed, in her great sorrow, since 
the day of the crucifixion. Mary of Bethany, 
however, remained, lingering near the tomb, 
hoping that Jesus had not yet left the garden, 
and that she might once more behold him. 


460 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


Seated upon the steps of the tomb, weeping 
for joy at his resurrection, and wishing once 
more to behold him, she heard a footstep behind 
her, and, turning round, saw a man standing 
near her. It was Jesus himself, and kneeling, 
she was about to clasp his feet, when he said to 
her: 

‘““Touch me not, Mary, Iam not yet ascended 
to my Father. But go and tell Lazarus, and my 
brethren, and my mother, that I ascend, ere 
maby days, unto my Father and your Father, 
and unto my God and your God.’’ 

Jesus then vanished out of her sight; and she | 
came and told all these things to us, and to the 
disciples; and we all once more believed that 
Jesus was Messias and Christ, the immortal Son 
of the Blessed. Such joy as filled the bosoms of 
his friends was never before experienced by 
human beings. Our happiness and exultation 
now were in proportion to our depression before 
his resurrection. 

But what pen can describe, my dear father, 
the amazement and consternation of Caiaphas, 
and the chief priests, and the rest of his enemies! 
The soldiers who had kept guard of the sepul- 
cher had entered the city by different ways, and 
spread the report of the mighty miracle of the 
resurrection through every principal street in 
Jerusalem, as they fled through it. 

Caiaphas, hearing the uproar, sprang from his 
couch to inquire the cause of it, and on being 
assured by his servants, ‘‘Jesus has burst his 
tomb and risen alive from the dead!’’ he quaked, 
and became deadly pale. But he soon rallied, 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID, 461 


and sending for two or three of the soldiers, who 
were describing vividly what they had witnessed 
to a large concourse in the street, he questioned 
them closely upon the facts. The soldiers’ testi- 
mony agreed together, and could not be gain- 
said. 

When Pilate received the account from the 
Centurion of the guard, he said: 

‘“‘We have crucified a God, as I believed! 
Henceforth Iam accursed!’’ and leaving his Hall 
of Judgment, he went and shut himself up in his 
own room, which he has not since left. But men 
say he neither eats nor sleeps, and that a dread 
fit of gloom has settled upon his soul. 

Caiaphas and the priests in the meanwhile as- 
sembled together in full sanhedrim, and hearing 
the testimony of the Centurion, were convinced 
that the fact could not be concealed of Jesus’ 
resurrection. 

‘“Who had seen him alive?’’ demanded the 
High-Priest. 

*‘T have seen him, my lord,’’ answered the 
Centurion—‘‘I saw his pierced feet and hands as 
he walked past me; and the morning breeze blew 
aside his mantle and exposed to my eyes the 
open wound made by the spear of my soldier 
Philippus. He was alive and in full strength of 
limb!’’ 

‘Thou sawest a vision, Roman,’’ answered 
Caiaphas. ‘‘Come then aside with us, and let 
us talk with thee.’’ 

In a few minutes afterward the Centurion left 
the court of the High-Priest’s palace followed by 
a Gibeonitish slave, bearing after him a vase of 


462 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


Persian gold. He has told every one since that 
he must have seen a spirit, for that the disciples 
of Jesus came by night and stole away the body 
of their master while they slept, overcome with 
watching. His soldiers have also been bribed to 
tell the same tale. 

Such is the false version that now goes about 
the city, my dear father; but there are few that 
give it credence, even of our enemies. As 
Aimilius, who is filled with great joy at the 
resurrection of Jesus, to-day very justly says: 

‘Tf these soldiers slept on guard, they merited 
death therefor by the military laws of the em- 
pire. If, while sleeping, their charge—the dead 
body of Jesus—was taken away, they deserve 
death for failing to prevent it. Why then are 
they not placed under arrest by Pilate’s orders, 
if this story be true? Because Pilate well knows 
that it is not true. He knows, because he has 
privately examined many of the soldiers, that 
Jesus did burst his tomb, and that angels rolled 
away the stone without breaking his seals, which 
could not have been left unmarred but by a 
miracle. He knows that Jesus has arisen—for it 
is believed that he has also beheld him; at least 
such is the rumor of the Pretorium. It was the 
form of Jesus visible before him, doubtless, that 
drove him in such amazement from his Hall to 
his secret chamber; for it was remarked that he 
started, turned deadly pale, and essayed to ad-— 
dress the invisible space before him, as if he saw 
a-spirit. Therefore his soldiers are not molested 
—and their exemption from arrest is proof that 
the body of Jesus was not stolen away while they 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID, 463 


slept. Besides, if they were asleep, thése 
soldiers, how could they tell that it was stolen 
away, and declare the persons who did it?’’ 

This is the unanswerable reasoning of the 
Prefect Aimilius; and thus you see, dear father, 
that Caiaphas can gain little by his briberies and 
diligently circulated falsehood. That Jesus of 
Nazareth is alive from the dead is true, and if I 
had not seen him, the evidence is complete 
enough to convince me of the fact. 

Beside the facts which I have stated, is the 
increasing testimony of the thousands who to- 
day have gone out of the city to see the sepul- 
cher where he was laid. They say, both enemies 
of Jesus as well as our friends, that it was im- 
possible for the door to have been opened by any 
human being, not by Pilate himself, without 
marring the seals. They also assert that to 
remove the stone by night, which would require 
four men, and to bear forth the body, would have 
been impossible if the guard had been present; 
and if they had been asleep, they must have 
awakened them with the heavy noise made by 
rolling the massive door along the hollow pave- 
ment outside the sepulcher. 

**Tf,’’ say the common people, ‘‘the watch 
slept, why does not the Procurator put them to 
death ?’’ 

This question remains unanswered, and the 
watch go about the streets unharmed. My dear 
father, remember no more my unbelief, but with 
me believe in Jesus, that He is the Son of God, 
the Savior of Israel, the immortal Christ of the 
Prophets. Your affectionate daughter, 

ADINA, 


464 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


LETTER XXXVIUT. 


Betruany, House of Mary and Martha, 
one month after the Passover. } 

I prEpty regret, my dearest father, the delays 
which have detained you so long from arriving 
at Jerusalem, but I trust that ere many days the 
caravan for which you wait will reach Gaza, and 
that you will be enabled to resume your journey 
to the Holy City. Iam now at Bethany, where 
I have been some time making it my home, for 
such was the hostility of the Jews, incited by the 
chief priests, agamst us that, by Pilate’s com- 
mand, we were compelled to leave Jerusalem on 
the day of the resurrection, to remain until their 
hatred had in some degree subsided; for he said 
that the continued presence there of the disciples 
of Jesus kept up constant occasion for tumult 
and interposition of the Roman authority. 

Uncle Amos has retired for the present to his 
farm near Jericho; but will be here to-morrow 
to remain with us. ‘Therefore when you come 
near to Jerusalem, instead of going directly into 
the city, turn aside by the road leading past the 
king’s gardens and go up the brook of Kedron 
into the way to Bethany. I pray that God may 
preserve yoa in safety, and soon permit me the 
happiness of once more embracing you, after 
three long years of separation. 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 465 


And what events have transpired, and to which 
I have been a witness in these three years! From 
the preaching of John the Baptizer and the 
baptism of Jesus by him, unto the glorious 
resurrection of the mighty Son of God! 
Favored, indeed, have I been to have been a 
dweller in Judea during this eventful period, 
and to have seen and heard these things, which 
no other age of the world can parallel; but so 
far as one could know them, who was not an eye- 
witness, you, my dear father, have been faithfully 
informed of them through my letters. You have, 
therefore, before you the same testimony as I 
have, and those who have seen and now believe. 
Once more, my dear father, read carefully over 
the whole narrative, from the first letter, and 
thus, with all the facts fresh in your mind, 
answer to yourself this inquiry: 

‘“Was not this man the Son of God? Was not 
he the very Christ, the divine and long-looked 
for Messias? Was he not that mighty Prophet 
which should come into the world? If he were 
not, who is He? Whois He at whose birth the 
air was filled with angels, over whose couch hung 
a celestial star; before whose infant feet the 
three wisest men of the world, Shapha of Egypt, 
the son of Ham, Beltazar of Assyria, the son of 
Shem, and Thoropha of Grecia, the son of 
Japhet, representing the family of mankind, 
bowed in adoration and worship, as to a God! 
Who is He for whom Herod the First slew three 
hundred and twoscore children in Bethlehem, in 
order to reach his life? Who was He whom 
John the Baptizer proclaimed the ‘‘Lamb of 


466 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


God,’’ whose blood was the only fountain for 
sin? Who was He at whose baptism the heavens 
were opened above his head, and the spirit of 
God descended upon him in the form of a dove 
of light, while the voice of the Lord, like the 
voice of many thunders, proclaimed from the 
depths of the cloudless skies, ‘‘This is my be- 
loved Son?’? Who was He, my dear father, at 
whose word the tempest became still; the billowy 
waves placid; the winds hushed? Who was He 
that healed the sick and leprous by a word; who 
restored a lost arm or leg by a touch; who by a 
look reanimated the lifeless limb of the paralytic; 
who raised the daughter of Jairus; healed the 
Centurion’s servant; restored to life the son of 
the widow of Nain; cast outa legion of devils 
from Beor, the Levite; restored the deaf and 
dumb nephew of the Governor of Syria to hear- 
ing and speech; gave to his disciples also the 
same power to do miracles; feeds at one time 
four thousand men, and another time five thou- 
sand, from a few pounds of bread and a few 
fishes, which a lad could carry ina basket; whom 
Moses and Elias came from the regions of the 
blessed, shining in resplendent glory, bright 
from the presence of the Father, to visit and hold 
communion with; who calls forth from the tomb 
of corruption Lazarus to life and health; who 
once, while praying, was answered by a voice 
from heaven in the hearing of many people, ‘‘ I 
have glorified My name, and will glorify it 
again ?’’ 

Who was He, my father, at whose trial nothing 
could be found against him, and who, when de- 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID, 467 


livered to execution by Pilate to save himself and 
appease the Jews, was publicly declared to be an 
innocent man, by the act of the Procurator, in 
calling for water and washing his hands, and 
saying that he was clear of his blood, for he 
found no fault in him? Who was He at whose 
crucifixion the heavens grew black as sackcloth, 
the sun withdrew its light, the stars shot from 
their spheres, the lightnings leaped along the 
earth, the earth itself quaked, and the dead 
sprung from their graves? Who was He who on 
the third day burst the bars of the tomb, received 
as he walked forth the homage of an archangel, 
whose servants were a seraph and a cherub, wait- 
ing behind himin the tomb; who appeared alive 
to his mother—to the women of Galilee — to 
Mary of Bethany, to Martha and Lazarus, and 
last of all to me also? Who was this wonderful 
person, my father—who was He but the Christ? 
Oh, read, reflect, compare the prophets that 
speak of Messias with the life and words and 
deeds of Jesus, and the life of Jesus with the 
prophets. There thou wiltsee that he has proven 
himself the very Christ, by what we in our igno- 
rance looked upon as the seal affixed to an im- 
postor. Isaias prophesied of the Christ whom he 
saw aiar off, that ‘She should be aman of sor- 
row; that he should be ‘‘despised and rejected 
of men;’’ that he should be brought ‘‘as a lamb 
to the slaughter;’’ that he should be ‘‘taken 
from prison and judgment, and cut off from the 
land of the living;’’ that he should be ‘‘num- 
bered with the wicked in his death, and make his 
grave with the rich!’’ How light, how clear, 


468 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


how plain, all these prophecies now are to me, 
and to us all. How wonderfully in their minute- 
ness they have been fulfilled, you already know. 

His resurrection also was foretold by himself, 
but we did not understand his words until now. 
When he spoke of destroying the Temple and 
raising it in three days, he spoke of the taber- 
nacle of his body! Oh, how many sayings, 
which, when spoken by his sacred lips, we un- 
derstood not, now rush upon us in all their 
meaning, proving to us that every step of his 
life was foreknown to him; that he went forward 
to his death aware of all things whatsoever that 
were going to befall him! 

But his resurrection was also foretold by the 
holy David when he said, ‘‘Thou wilt not leave 
his soul in Hades, nor suffer thy Holy One to see 
corruption; therefore my flesh shall rest in 
hope!’’ Even his arraignment before Pilate, 
Caiaphas, and Herod, was foretold by David, 
when he said: ‘‘The kings of the earth set 
themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, 
against the Lord, and against his Anointed ;”’ 
yet the Lord saith, ‘‘Thou art my Son, this day 
I have begotten thee.’’ Also, my dear father, 
turn to the Psalm xxii. of King David, and com- 
pare the following words, which speak of Mes- 
sias, with what I have described in my previous 
letters: 

‘“My God, my God why hast thou forsaken 
me?’’ are prophetic words put into the mouth of 
Messias when he shall come, and be forsaken of 
God. You will find that in my letters I have 
told you that on the cross Jesus uttered these 
very words. . 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 469 


Again, King David makes Messias, a few sen- 
tences further on, to say, ‘‘They shoot out the 
lip at me; they shake the head; they laugh me 
to scorn. They say, ‘He trusted in the Lord 
that he would deliver him.’ Thou hast brought 
me into the dust of death.’’ 

All this shows that Messias, if he were to be a 
king, was also to suffer, to be forsaken of God, 
to be brought to death! and yet we rejected 
Jesus as soon as he died! But, my dear father, 
read the same Psalm of the holy king a little 
further, and you will see these words, which 
were put by the royal prophet into the lips of his 
future Messias: 

‘“The assembly of the wicked have inclosed 
me. They pierced my hands and my feet. They 
part my garments among them, and upon my 
vesture cast lots!’’ 

Read and compare these acknowledged prophe- 
cies of Messias, with the accounts in my letters, 
dear father, and you will not only be convinced 
that Jesus is the Messias of the prophets, and 
Christ of God, but you will perceive that his 
humiliation and sufferings before Pilate and 
Caiaphas, his agony on the cross, his death and 
burial instead, as we ignorantly conceived, of 
being evidences that he was not the Christ, were 
proof that He was the very Son of the Highest— 
the Shiloh of Jehovah foretold by the prophets— 
the Anointed King of Israel. 

Oh, wonderful is all this! How marvelous 
these things passing before our eyes! Yet how 
have we been blinded—how gross and dark our 
minds that we could not, until He died, and has 


470 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


arisen again, see in him all that He was in his 
sufferings and in his death—the Divine Messias. 
Now all is dazzlingly clear! The prophets are 
unveiled to our sight, and we see that these 
things must have happened to him. Yet how 
quickly was He deserted and faith lost in him! 
How his disciples denied that they ever knew 
him; and how we all were ashamed that we had 
ever followed him! Oh, our darkness, our blind- 
ness, to have seen in the prophecies of Messias 
only the passages which speak of his glory and 
power, and passed by those, which as positively 
foretold of his humiliation, degradation, and 
death! Read the prophets no longer, my dearest 
father, with a veil before your eyes! See, in all 
you read, Jesus as the end of the prophets, the 
goal of all their far-seeing prophecies, the veri- 
table and sure realization of their prophetic 
visions. . 

Bui you have said in one of your late letters 
to me ‘“‘that Elias must first come ere Messias 
appear on earth; and then you ask me, where is 
Elias? Hath he come?. Who hath seen him? 

This question, my dear father, was also put by 
some of the Jews to Jesus. He replied: 

**Blias truly has come, and ye knew him not, 
and ye have done unto him whatsoever ye list.’’ 

‘““Who was he?’? demanded several of the 
scribes and priests, surprised at hearing this. 

‘“He who came crying in the wilderness before 
me, and who spoke of me, and whom Herod hath 
slain,’’ He answered. 

‘‘But his name was John, master,’’ said they. 

‘‘But his spirit and power were those of Elias, ”’ 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 471 


answered Jesus. ‘‘In Elijah’s spirit and power 
he came, and thus was called the Elias that 
should come. ‘The reality is the man. John 
was the Elias of Malachi the Prophet — for 
prophetic eyes see natures independently of 
names. ”’ 

Thus, my dear father, has Jesus in all particu- 
lars proved himself to be the subject of all 
prophecy—the King of Israel. Butyou will now 
ask, “‘Is He to re-establish the throne of David, 
and live forever ?’’ 

Yes, but not in Jerusalem on earth. Oh, how 
clear are all things to my apprehension now! 
His kingdom, which I once believed to be the 
land of Judah, is to be ina world beyond the 
skies, which he has created for his followers, 
and to which they are to pass, like him, through 
the gates of death. The Jerusalem in which 
His Throne is to be placed is heavenly, and the 
true Jerusalem, of which the present one is but 
the material type—what the body is to the soul 
of a man. 

Jesus has talked with me since his resurrec- 
tion, and explained all this to me, and much 
more that is wonderful and full of joy. It is 
now four weeks since he arose, and during that 
time he has been not only seen by all the dis- 
ciples, but by hundreds of his followers. The 
seventh day after his resurrection he appeared 
openly at Nazareth on the seashore to Peter, 
John, Andrew, James, and other disciples, to his 
numerous relatives, and many of the chief citi- 
zens of his town, all of whom not only recog- 
nized him, but marveled to see his crucified 


479 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


hands and feet. The effect of this recognition, 
which was made by many, who, being up at the 
Passover, had seen him crucified, was to bring 
the whole population worshiping at his knees. 
The only change in his usual appearance, dear 
father, to the eye, is a transparent paleness, 
which gives a soft radiance to his whole aspect, 
and a certain majestic reserve which awes all 
who draw near to him; so that men speak in his 
presence in subdued whispers. His mother, 
happiest of women now, as she was before the 
most wretched, ever sits at his feet, and silently 
enjoys his sacred presence, seldom speaking, 
and looking up to him rather as a worshiper to 
her God than a mother upon her son. That He 
is in the flesh in reality, and not a spirit, He 
has proven to his disciples by eating with them; 
and in a remarkable way to an incredulous dis- 
ciple, called Thomas, who not believing that 
Jesus was risen in his real body from the dead, 
was told by the Divine Lord to place his fingers © 
into his hands, and his hand into his side; 
which Thomas in fact did do; when, falling at 
his feet in amazement and adoration, he wor- 
shiped him as God. 

It would take much time, my dear father, to 
record the numerous instances in which the risen 
Lord has been seen and spoken with by persons 
who knew him before his crucifixion; so that 
there is no fact so fully established in the minds 
of many thousands in Judah, as the resurrection 
of Jesus from the dead. 

And if fuller proof is wanted, it is to be had, 
as Abram, the learned Pharisee, has been forced 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 4%3 


to confess to Rabbi Amos, in the conduct of his 
disciples, after their Master’s crucifixion. For 
they began their defection by denying him and 
deserting him; they fled in all directions, and 
studiously concealed the fact of their former 
connection with him. They were not only 
moved by fear to this concealment, but by shame, 
being sorely mortified at having been led away 
by him: for they were honest, plain. sensible 
men, without fanaticism or fanciful vagaries. 
They had become the followers of Jesus because 
they saw in him that moral purity and truth 
which formed the elements of their own charac- 
ters. These plain, homely men—these poor 
fishermen and humble countrymen deeply felt 
how their false position, among judicious folks, 
would now make them appear, and so they 
hastened to bury their disgrace and disappoint- 
ment in the seclusion of the fishing hamlets of 
Galilee; and doubtless desired never more to 
hear spoken into their ears the name of their 
crucified Master. 

But what do we behold, within a week after 
the resurrection is made known through the 
length and breadth of Judah? They who had 
hidden in dismay from the face of day came boldly 
forth, and once more were with their Lord, for- 
given by him, and received by him again into 
his holy confidence. They went with him wher- 
ever He went, even to Jerusalem, from which 
they had but a few days before fled. They 
walked with animated steps, and elevated faces, 
' like men no longer serving a defeated monarch, 
but like men whose Master was Lord of heaven 
and of earth. 


AT4 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


To-day they are with him in the gardens of 
David, at Bethlehem, where he is holding daily 
a solemn council with the eleven, unfolding to 
them the future glory of his kingdom, and open- 
ing their understanding to the clear apprehen- 
sion of all which the prophets have written con- 
cerning him. John, who is a member of this 
divine council, says that the power of Jesus, the 
extent and majesty of his kingdom, the infinite 
results of his death and resurrection, are not to 
be conceived of by those who have not listened 
to the sublime revelations of his own lips. 

‘“He hath shown us,’’ said John, ‘‘how that 
his true office as Son of God, and Son of Man, is 
to be a mediator between both; that by his death 
he reconciled the race of Adam to his Father, 
having become our Lamb of sacrifice for the 
whole world. He showed us that He himself 
was the High-Priest; his own precious body was 
the victim, which He himself offered up to 
appease the wrath of Jehovah against trangres- 
sions, and how that the Cross was the Altar of 
this great world’s sacrifice, and the Temple the 
whole earth and heavens. He showed us how 
that all the lambs which had bled since Adam’s 
day typified himself, the one only true and 
efficient Lamb, which God ultimately looked to, 
to be sacrificed for sins! How wonderful, dear 
father, is all this! He further teaches his dis- | 
ciples that he will shortly ascend from the earth 
to enter upon his celestial reign, and that his— 
subjects there are to be all who love him and 
keep his commandments. It is a kingdom of 
holiness, and none enter there but the pure in 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 475 


heart. He says further that as we do now con- 
fess our sins over the blood of the victim we 
sacrifice for ourselves in the Temple, so hence- 
forth we must look to him (by faith when we 
see him no longer), slain a sacrifice for us, and 
confess our sins to the Father for his blood’s 
sake, which the Father has accepted, in the one 
sacrifice he made on the cross, once for all. 
Jesus has moreover taught his disciples that the 
Gentiles are to share equally with the children 
of Abraham the benefits of his death and resur- 
rection; that this good news shall be proclaimed 
to them by his disciples, and that they will 
gladly hear it and believe. That the gospel of 
redemption, no longer by the blood of bulls and 
of goats, but by his blood, shall in the progress 
of ages fill the whole earth; when every knee 
shall bow to his name. 

‘‘The foundation of my everlasting kingdom,”’ 
he saith, ‘‘truly shall be laid upon earth in the 
hearts of men; but the building is with God 
eternal in the heavens. The tomb through 
which I have passed is the gate, and all who 
would come after me, and enter in, must follow 
in my footsteps.’’ 

Thomas then asked his Lord whither he would 
go, and the way? How he would leave the 
earth, since he could die no more? 

““Thou shalt see for thyself ere many days 
pass,’’ answered Jesus. ‘“‘In that I have risen, 
all whom my Father giveth me shall rise also 
from the dead; and those whom I raise up, I 
will take with me the way I go; for where I am 
they shall evermore be with me also.’’ 


476 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


Such, dear father, is a brief account of what 
John has told us on visiting us touching the 
divine teaching of Messias, the Son of God, 
respecting his kingdom. Yet much is still mys- 
terious; but we know enough to be willing tc 
trust ourselves to him for this life, and for that 
which is to come. We know that all power is 
given into his hands, and that he can save all 
men who believe in, and accept him as the only 
sacrificed Lamb, whom the Father hath accepted 
for the iniquities of men. ‘The sacrifices of the 
Temple must henceforth cease. 

What is remarkable, dear father, notwithstand- 
ing the Jews have heard that Jesus walks every- 
where through Jewry, yet no efforts are made to 
lay hands on him. At his presence, crowds of 
his enemies fly like the stricken multitude before 
the advancing sirocco. His presence in Judea is 
a present dread, like some great evil, to those 
who fear him; but like a celestial blessing to 
more who love him. Pilate, on the eve of mak- 
ing a journey last week to Bethel, before quit- 
ting the city, dispatched couriers in advance to 
ascertain whether Jesus the crucified was on the 
line of his route! Caiaphas having occasion to 
go to Jericho, a few days after the Passover, 
hearing that Jesus had been seen with his dis- 
ciples on the road, made a circuit round by Luz 
and Shiloh, in order not to meet him. The 
gates of this city are kept constantly shut, lest 
he should enter within the walls: some of the 
chief priests fearing greatly to behold his face, 
while others imagine that he is engaged in rais 
ing an army to advance upon and take Jerusalem 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 477 


from the Romans. And doubtless, dear father, 
were the kingdom of Jesus of this world, he 
would in a few days lead a countless host against 
the city, and make himself master of Judea. 
But his kingdom is above, and all who dwell in 
the true Jerusalem must follow him hither 
through sufferings, humiliation and death. 

I rejoice to see by your last letter that you 
may be expected to reach here the week after 
next. Oh, that you were here now, that you 
might be taken by John to see Jesus: for from 
what he says he will not long remain visible 
among us. Whither he goeth or how he goeth 
away, no man can say. We are filled with ex- 
pectation of some great event, which will con- 
clude the brilliant and wonderful succession of 
marvels that attend his footsteps and presence 
on earth. 

Faithfully, your loving daughter, 
ADINA. 


478 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


LETTER XXXIX. 


Beruany, Forty Days after 
the Resurrection. ; 

Dear Fatuer: With emotions that nearly de- 
prive me of the power to hold my pen, and with 
trembling fingers that make the words I write 
almost illegible, I sit down to make known to 
you the extraordinary event which will mark this 
day in all future time as the most worthy to be 
noted among men. 

In my last I informed you that Jesus, after his 
wonderful resurrection, which was declared to 
all men by infallible proofs, gathered once more 
his amazed and adoring disciples about him, and 
taught them, with more than mortal wisdom and 
eloquence, the great truths appertaining to his 
kingdom, which he now appointed them to ex- 
tend throughout all the world. 

On the fortieth day, my dear father, early in 
the morning, he left the house of Mary and 
Lazarus, where he had sat up with us all night 
(for none of us thought of sleep within the sound 
of his heavenly voice), speaking to us of the 
glories of heaven, and the excellency of heart and 
purity of life required of all who should enter it. 

‘‘Lord,’’ said Martha, as he went forth, 
‘‘whither goest thou?’’ 

‘‘Come and see,’’ he answered. ‘‘Whither I 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 49 


go ye shall know, and the way ye shall know: 
for where I am ye shall also be, and all those 
who believe in me.’”’ 

*‘Lord,’’ said Mary, kneeling at his feet, 
*‘return at noon, and remain with us during the 
heat of the day.”’ 

‘*Mary,’’ said Jesus, laying his hand gently 
upon her forehead, ‘‘I am going to my Father’s 
house! There thou shalt one day dwell with me 
in mansions not made with hands. Follow me, 
and thou shalt know the way thither. Through 
temptation I have first trodden it, through suffer- 
ing, through death, and through resurrection 
from the dead. So also must thou and all who 
love me follow me. To my friends, the gate of 
the tomb opens into the world of life eternal.’’ 

Thus speaking, he walked slowly onward 
toward the hill of Bethany, not far from the 
place where Lazarus was buried. He was fol- 
lowed not only by Mary, Martha, Lazarus, and 
John, my cousin Mary and myseif, each of us ex- 
pecting from his words and manner some new 
and great event to take place; but by all the dis- 
ciples, who had presently joined him near the 
cemetery, at the foot of the hill. There were at 
least five hundred persons in all, moving on with 
him ere he reached the green hillside beyond 
the village; for all followed him, expecting to 
hear more glorious revelations from his lips of 
the life beyond this. 

**He goes to the hill to pray,’’ said one of his 
disciples. 

**Nay,’’ said Peter, ‘‘he prays not since his 
resurrection as before. He hasno need of prayer 


480 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


for himself who has conquered sin, Satan, death, 
the grave and the world!’’ 

‘“He goeth to show us some mighty miracle, 
from the expression of power and majesty in his 
aspect,’’ said Thomas to me, gazing upon the 
Lord with awe; for each moment as he ascended 
the hill his countenance grew more glorious 
with a certain Godlike majesty, and shone like 
the face of Moses descending from Mount Sinai. 
We all hung back with adoring fear, and alone > 
he proceeded onward, a wide space being left by 
us between ourselves and him. Yet there was 
no terror in the glory which surrounded and 
shone out from him; but rather a holy radiance, 
that seemed to be the very light of holiness and 
peace. 

**So looked he,’’ said John to us, ‘‘when we 
beheld him transfigured in the mount with Elias 
and Moses.”’’ 

The hill, which is not lofty, was soon sur- 
mounted by his sacred feet. He stood upon its 
apex alone. We kept back near the brow of the 
hill, fearing to approach him, for his raiment 
shone now like the sun, while his countenance 
was as lightning. We shaded our eyes to be- 
hold him. All was now expectation, and looking 
for some mighty event—what we knew not! 
John drew nearest to him, and upon his knees, 
with clasped hands, looked toward him earnestly ; 
for he knew, as he afterward told us, what would 
take place; Jesus having informed him the night 
before. Joy and yet tears were on his face, as 
he gazed with blinded eyes, as one gazes on the 
noonday sun, upon his Divine Master. It was 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 481 


a scene, dear father, impressive beyond expres- 
sion. ‘The hilltop was thronged with an expect- 
ant, awe-stricken multitude, which knew not 
whether to remain or fly from the glorious 
majesty of the presence of the Son of God. The 
blue sky spread out its illimitable concave above 
the hills without a cloud. At the foot of the 
- eminence toward the holy city slept the gardens 
of Gethsemane, where Jesus loved to walk, and 
where he was arrested. Jerusalem, with its 
towers, pinnacles, palaces, and gorgeous Temple, 
glittered in the distance; and Calvary, studded © 
with fresh Roman crosses, stood out boldly in 
view, in the transparent air. The tall cypresses 
which grew above the tomb of Joseph, where he 
had lain, were also visible. Jesus seemed for a 
moment to survey these scenes of his suffering, 
of his ignominy and death, with the look of a 
divine conqueror. He then turned to his disciples 
and said: 

**Ye have been with me in my sorrows, and 
you now shall behold my glory, and the reward 
which my Father doth give me. To-day I take 
leave of you and ascend to my Father and your 
Father. Remember all things which I have 
taught you concerning my kingdom. Go forth 
and teach the glad tidings of salvation to all 
men, and baptize all nations in the name of the 
Father, and of the Son, and. of the Holy Ghost; 
and lo, Iam with you alway, even unto the end 
of the world.’’ 

Thus speaking, in a voice that thrilled every 
bosom with emotions indescribable, he extended 
his hands above their heads and blessed them. 


482 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


while we all fell upon our faces to the ground, 
also to receive his blessing. 

He then lifted up his eyes to the calm blue 
depths of heaven, and said: 

‘“And now, O Father, glorify thou me with 
thine own self, with the glory which I had with 
Thee before the world was!’’ 

As he spoke we raised our faces from the 
ground, and saw him leaving the earth, rising 
from the hill-top into the air, with a slow and 
majestic ascension; his hands outspread over us 
beneath, as if shedding down blessings upon us 
all. The loud burst of surprise which rose from 
five hundred voices at seeing him soar away into 
the atmosphere, was followed by a profound and 
awiul silence, as we watched him rise and still 
rise, ascending and still ascending into the upper 
air, his whole form growing brighter and 
brighter, as the distance widened between his 
feet and the earth! 

Upon our knees, in speechless amazement, we 
followed his ascent with our eyes, not a word 
being spoken by any soul; and hearts might have 
been heard beating in the intense expectation of 
the moment. 

Then, in the far-off height of heaven, we beheld 
a bright cloud, no larger than a man’s hand, but 
each instant it expanded and grew broader and 
brighter, and swift as the winged lightning 
it descended through the firmament downward, 
until we beheld it evolve itself into a glittering 
host of angels which no man could number, 
countless as the stars of heaven. As these shin- 
ing legions descended, they parted into two 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 483 


bands, and sweeping along the air, met the 
ascending Son of Godin the mid-sky. The rush- 
ing of their ten thousand times ten thousand 
wings was heard like the sound of many waters. 
Surrounding Jesus like a shining cloud they re- 
eeived him into their midst, and hid him from our 
eyes, amid the glories of their celestial splendor. 

While we stood gazing up into the far skies, 
hoping, expecting, yet doubting if we should 
ever behold him again, two bright stars seemed 
to be descending from the height of heaven 
toward us. Ina few seconds we saw that they 
were angels. Alighting on the place Jesus had 
left, they said to the eleven, ‘‘Why gaze ye up 
into heaven, ye men of Galilee? This same 
Jesus whom ye have seen go into heaven shall 
so come in like manner as ye have now seen him 
ascend!’’ Thus speaking, they vanished out of 
SOO EPS aE UN Sui sea es Se en aan 

The above account, my dear father, of the 
ascent yesterday into heaven of the Christ,-our 
Blessed Lord Jesus, I wrote the same evening, 
while all the circumstances were present and 
vivid upon my mind. Oh, what asublime spec- 
tacle! What human language can describe it! 
But one thing I have presented clearly to you, 
dear father, and that is the fact that Jesus has 
ascended into the heaven of heavens! Oh, amaz- 
ing reality! Overwhelming truth! What, oh 
what is earth ?— What is Judea ?— What is man ?— 
that God is mindful of him—that He should so 
have visited him! And when He has visited us 
—when His Divine Son, the brightness of the 
glory of the Father, has descended to earth, and 


484 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


assumed our nature, to reconcile us to God, and 
obtain an eternal life for us, how has He been 
received? Shunned for his voluntary poverty— 
despised for his humble human parentage—hated 
for his holiness—tried before tribunals for crimes 
unknown to him-—scourged and spit upon, 
mocked, and buffeted, and crucified with thieves, 
as if his enemies would render his death as 
ignominious as it was capable of being made! 
But behold the issue! See, when he had paid 
the debt of death for us, the change in all things! 
He awakes to life! He bursts the tomb! He 
walks forth from the sepulcher! Angels are his 
~ gervants! After forty days on earth, unfolding 
to his disciples the mysteries of his gospel and 
the splendor of his kingdom, he ascends-visibly 
to heaven at midday from Bethany, in the sight 
of many hundreds, and is escorted by armies of 
angels to the right hand of the Majesty on high! 
Such, my dear father, is the appropriate 
crowning event of the extraordinary life of Jesus, 
both Lord and Christ! Huis ascent from this 
earth into the heaven of heavens not only is 
proof that He came from God, but that God is 
well pleased with all that He has done in the 
flesh. If in any one thing He taught, He spoke 
what was not true, either concerning the Father 
or concerning himself, he would not have re- 
ceived such a welcome back to the heavenly 
abodes! All that Jesus said of himself is there- 
fore true! Jehovah attests it! We must then 
believe, or we can have no interest in the king- 
dom which He has gone to prepare for us, and 
which we can enter only as He has traveled 


PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 485 


through it, through humiliation, suffering, 
death, the tomb, resurrection, and also ascen- 
sion! Thus did he truly say, ‘‘The way I go ye 
shall know!’’ 

His kingdom is therefore, my dear father, 
clearly not of this world, as he said to Pilate, the 
Procurator; but it is above. To it he has tri- 
umphantly ascended, attended by legions of 
Cherubim and Seraphim, an ascent which David 
clearly foresaw in vision, when he wrote: 

‘God has gone up with a shout, he has 
ascended on High!”’ 

Doubt, then, no longer, dearest father! Jesus, 
the son of Mary, in His human nature, was the 
Son oF Gop in His Divine nature; an incompre- 
hensible and mysterious union, whereby He has 
brought together in harmony the two natures, 
separated far apart by sin, by sacrificing His 
own body as a sin-offering, to reconcile both in 
one Immaculate body upon the cross. There is 
now no more condemnation to them who believe 
in Him and accept Him; for in His body He 
took our sins, and with his precious blood, as 
that of a lamb without blemish, cleansed them 
forever away. | 

But I cannot write all I would say to you, 
dearest father. When we meet, which you re- 
joice me in saying will be on the first day of the 
week at Jerusalem, I will unfold to you all that 
the divine and glorified Jesus has taught me. 
Doubt not that He is Messias. Hesitate not to 
accept Him; for He is the end of Moses, and of 
the Law, and of the Prophets, the very Shiloh 
who should come and restore all things, to whom 


486 PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 


be glory, power, dominion, majesty, and excele 
lency evermore. 
Your loving daughter, 
ADINA. 


[Here terminates the series of letters of the 
Jewish maiden to her father, written during the 
Procuratorship of Pontius Pilate, under the reign 
of Tiberius Cesar, the Roman Emperor. They 
eover a period of three years and six months, 
embracing all the events of the Life of John the 
Baptist, and of the Holy Jesus of Nazareth, to 
the day of His ascension into heaven. 

The Roman Centurion, A’milius, it would 
appear from history, became fProcurator of 
the Island of Britain in the West, and with 
Adina, his noble lady, was the first to entertain 
the Christian Apostle, Saul of Tarsus, otherwise 
Paulus, on his visit thither to proclaim at those 
ends of the earth the gospel of Jesus the cruci- 
fied, in obedience to the command left by Him 
with His disciples, that they should preach His 
gospel to every creature. 

The history of the first establishment of the 
faith of Jesus in this remote Roman barbaric 
Province by the Jewish Apostle, and of its spread 
throughout the island, are to be found written 
in detail in certain letters, which the daughter 
of Ajmilius and of Adina wrote to her brother, a 
Roman knight at Rome. | 

Indorsement upon the original Letters of 
Adina by the Roman Jewish Scribe, 

Evias Ben Ezra. 








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